Day 3 started with a breakfast buffet on the 2nd floor that was sponsored by ING and the opportunity to watch the new National Teacher of the Year our own Jeff Charbonneau on Good Morning America! It was really neat watching Jeff! He did an amazing job!
After breakfast we had free time until it was time to leave for the White House so Joseph and I put on our running shoes, took the metro, and went for a run around the National Mall. It was amazing! (And yes I know I keep using that word! I can't find words that describe this AMAZING experience!) We took pictures while we were running with the Capitol and the Washington Monument in the background. It was so much fun!
Afterwards we hurried back and started getting ready to meet the President and to go to the White House! I will admit I was a little nervous! I decided to wear my black suit and gold shirt to represent Appalachian! When it was time I hurried down to the bus, realized I forgot my CCSSO pass, ran back to my room, and back to the bus so afraid they were going to leave me! (Of course those of you that know me know I am always early so having to go back to my room really only made me on time. haha But I was panicked!)
Our bus pulled out from the hotel and headed over the White House. We were all giggley and nervous. We arrived and went through 4 checkpoints before entering the White House. One of which included a smell test from a dog. We walked in and we started taking tons of pictures. We walked down this long hallway and we stopped at almost every door to take pictures of the rooms. I couldn't believe we were in THE White House! It was unbelievable! We then walked out by the Rose Garden and stood against The White House to wait. We discussed how we thought the Rose Garden would have been bigger and have more roses! From there we went into the Roosevelt Room to wait. Many of us then decided that we needed to use the restroom (because if you are at the White House then you have to use the restroom at THE White House!). Some STOYs used the one in the hallway and then they took the rest of us downstairs to use the one down there. We came back up to the Roosevelt Room and waited some more. While in the Roosevelt Room we noticed that there was a Nobel Peace Prize hanging on the wall!
Once they were ready we went one by one (shortest to tallest) into the Oval Office (that was off of the Roosevelt Room) to meet President Barack Obama. At this point I realized I hadn't come up with anything to say to him! I started to panic and decided it was too late to come up with something and that we would just see how it went. The person before me went in and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest! It was a total out of body experience! It was then my turn and I walked into the Oval Office and up to President Barack Obama (and as I type this I just felt butterflies in my stomach!) As I walked up to him I remember thinking hmm.. not as tall as I thought. I then shook hands with him and I kept thinking "I am shaking hands with President Barack Obama!!!" He then said so you are from North Carolina? I said yes and told him that I live in Boone which is about 2 hours from Asheville. He said, "We love Asheville!". I told him I did too and that we visit there a lot. The President then asked what I teach and I told him that I teach 3rd grade. He told me that was one of his favorite grades when his daughters were in school. He then thanked me for being a teacher. We then turned and he put his arm around me for a picture. I haven't seen the pictures yet, but I hope I was smiling at the camera.because all I kept thinking was THE President has his arm around me!!!!! From there I walked out another side door to the Rose Garden where they announced me. I then walked across the stage and stood in my place. While standing there I found Joseph in the crowd! I was so excited that he was able to be there too! As soon I found my spot I realized that I would fail a test on the Oval Office because besides yellow walls, a fireplace, and windows that made the room really bright I had no idea what the room looked like! I was too busy staring at President Obama! I then made a mental reminder to google the Oval Office when I got back to the room!
Once we all arrived on stage President Obama came out with Jeff Charbonneau and Arnie Duncan to speak and announce the new National Teacher of the Year. It was unbelievable standing there while President Obama was speaking. It was also really neat to be able to see the proctors and see how often he went off script. You can watch the video here: http://youtu.be/-zH3cgsdPQg
After President Obama spoke he then came and posed for a picture with us. Once the picture was taken he continued standing in the middle talking with us. I decided to shake his hand again so I stuck out my hand and said thank you. He then shook my hand again. I was so excited! He then left and went back to his office. I then stood on stage to find Joseph in the crowd. We found each other and we started taking pictures. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I still can't believe it happened! Simply amazing!
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