We met every day for a week on the top floor of the Newseum, D.C.’s world-famous news museum. I and 50 other student journalists, one from each state plus the District of Columbia, were gathered together for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, an annual event named after the legendary founder of USA Today and fellow South-Dakotan, Al Neuharth.

Having only begun my career in journalism a short six months prior, I had been nervous to attend a conference that I assumed was for only the most die-hard of journalists. When I showed up, I couldn’t have felt more at home. Though every single one of the students was coming from a different background, we were all able to unite around a common love for journalism and I quickly integrated with the other passionate attendees.

The busy week began without any hesitation. The first thing I remember was viewing a live-taping of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where host Chuck Todd pressed Kellyanne Conway over the now-barred practice of family separation at the border. Later, we heard about the importance of free expression from Charles Haynes, the vice president of the Newseum Institute and executive director of the Religious Freedom Center. By this point, I was astounded at what I had learned. It was only day one.

As the week progressed, we bore witness to legends. We listened to Bill Clinton’s former Press Secretary, Mike McCurry, speak about his role in the Clinton Administration. NYT photographer Doug Mills walked us through his decades of work photographing presidents. Joan Mulholland and Ernest “Rip” Patton, Civil Rights activist and Freedom Riders (yes, those Freedom Riders), explained the importance of journalism in the pursuit of freedom. (Full disclosure: I wept like a child in the embrace of Patton after having the opportunity to ask him a question about his experiences). Finally, we saw broadcasting phenomenon Lesley Visser accept the 2018 Al Neuharth Award for excellence in the field of journalism. I find it unlikely I’ll ever be in a position to engage with as many accomplished individuals in as high a frequency ever again.

In addition to the incredible speakers, we toured the USA Today headquarters and were given the low-down on the inner workings of the newsroom. Being in D.C., we also had the eye-popping opportunity to tour both Chambers of Congress and participate in a simulated court hearing with United States District Court for D.C. Senior Judge Roy C. Lamberth. I encourage rereading that last sentence because you, the reader, may not have processed the fact that I was toured both chambers of Congress, participated in a mock trial with an esteemed district court judge and somehow, I’m able to explain said events as if they were mere footnotes. Nothing we did that week was a footnote, but if I were to explain everything we did while giving my experiences the time and attention to detail they desperately deserve, I’d have to publish a book.

Being the representative from South Dakota came with a sort of special honor attached. While attending the celebratory dinner honoring Visser’s accomplishments, the Florida representative and I were given the privilege of joining the Neuharth family at the dinner table. Sat beside me was Joseph Keusch, the son-in-law of Al Neuharth and perhaps more importantly, a professional horseman. Keusch told me stories I wouldn’t have believed had they come from anyone else, including a particularly entertaining tale about the time Keusch had dinner with Johnny Cash. Were the law to allow an honorary third grandparent, I would like everyone to know I’ve made my choice.

If it sounds like an awful lot of incredible, life-changing things to see in a very short period of time, you would be correct. Outside of a fever dream, there’s no other way I know to experience something like this. Though I’m still processing what I did that week, one thing’s for sure: my experience was one I won’t be forgetting, and there isn’t a person in the world I wouldn’t recommend it to.

For high school juniors interested in applying, visit the Freedom Forum Institute for more information.

Corrections: 11/26/18

The story contained minor grammatical errors and a broken link. These have both since been fixed.