Every year the Fine Arts Academy Community Learning seniors take a trip to a nearby city, this year they went to Washington, D.C. The nine seniors two chaperones stayed in an Airbnb right outside the city in Arlington. The students have been in class with each other for all four years of high school, creating a special bond.

“It was a really fun opportunity to get to know each other. We’ve known each other for years, but it was nice get to know them better and have a bonding opportunity, especially because I’m going to be working on a class project with them all year,” senior Macy Waid said.

The seniors work on a capstone project all year and present in the spring. While on the trip, they held class at the house they were staying in.

“In our class, we discussed our senior capstone project and brainstormed. We also took a personality test to find out what kind of personalities we have in our senior class,” senior Aiyana Thornton said.

The group went to many places, but MJ the musical stood out from all other activities they did. Thornton enjoyed watching the actors be passionate about their roles.

“I enjoyed getting to connect with my fellow seniors while also getting really cool experiences. My favorite thing about MJ the musical was just the dedication that each character had to like playing their role, especially the lead. He got as close to MJ as you can,” Thornton said.

Senior Lydia King enjoyed the dancing aspect of the musical.

“I expected it to be good because I love MJ, but the dancing was just out of this world, and the performance quality was amazing. Getting this experience with my friends was just really awesome,” King said.

The group also went to the Washington Ballet, a museum and an escape room. When they weren’t doing activities, they hung out at their Airbnb.

“We all had different rooms and in my room there were two beds, so four of us were staying together,” King said. We had a TV so we were watching stuff, talking and giggling all night. It was so great. Then we would have breakfast together in the mornings and do our homework together at the kitchen table.”