By: Avery Smith, Editorial Assistant

My first day at the Associate Collegiate Press (ACP) National College Media Convention was truly eventful. It was my first time visiting Washington D.C. and I was taken away by the city’s beauty. After we checked in at the hotel and registered for the convention,  we toured the D.C. area. The first place we visited was the Washington Monument. I had never seen the monument up close before and I have to say that I was impressed by how enormous it was.

Then we walked to see where President Barack Obama calls home (for now). We couldn’t go inside the White House; however, it does look beautiful on the outside. After we finished sightseeing, we came back to the convention and I sat in the opening keynote. The keynote speech was given by veteran Democratic Political Strategist Donna Brazile. She spoke about the importance of the 2016 Presidential election and how we can make a difference. She also gave the young and aspiring journalists advice on how to cover the election for their campus news outlets.

The opening keynote lasted for an hour and after it was over, the students had different speakers to choose from. The talks focused on finding an internship, developing editorial leadership, and reinventing student media. After the day was over, I was grateful to have attended this convention with so many experienced journalists who gave lectures on their craft. I am more excited for what tomorrow has in store for me.