Bonner Bonding

I would like to start by thanking everyone who made this trip possible; your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. The sophomore class trip to Richmond, VA was an eye-opening and rewarding experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about American history while simultaneously bonding with classmates.

After making the six hour trek to Virginia, we began our trip by participating on a slave trail tour. The tour guide, Ralph, was incredibly enthusiastic and made the experience genuine and interesting. On the tour, we had the opportunity to learn about the history of slave trade in Virginia and its roots in Richmond. We saw places where slaves actually lived and worked many years ago. Ralph prompted us to complete an exercise where we had to walk in a line while holding the shoulders of the person in front of us. While this task may seem elementary, it is harder than one might think. Participating in this activity gave us the smallest glimpse of what everyday life was like for slaves who were forced to live without freedoms.

The next part of the tour was very emotional as we had the opportunity to go to the site of Lumpkin’s jail. Ralph explained the ways in which the slaves were tortured in the jail. His recount was graphic and disturbing as he described how the slaves were beaten with wooden paddles until they blistered on their behinds and once they blistered, they continued to be paddled until the blisters opened. Then the wounds were covered in salt. As Ralph explained the process, I felt sick to my stomach for those that had to endure this pain.

On Sunday morning, we had an opportunity to meet with three Bonners from the Richmond program. We began the day by sharing breakfast together and got to know more about them, their school, and their Bonner program. I am always interested in learning about other Bonner programs so I was grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to them. The Richmond Bonners then took us to their sites and explained what they do. I found each of their three sites very interesting and I can tell that they are all making a huge impact on their community.

Our next activity consisted of visiting the Civil War Museum. We had another excellent tour guide, Dan, whose enthusiasm and interest for the subject truly shined through in his tour. During this experience we were able to take part in a guided tour which afforded us the opportunity to learn from an expert and ask questions. Afterwards, we were able to wander through the museum exhibit. Each person was drawn to something different in the exhibit and this gave us a chance to reflect on our own.

Although this trip was an important educational experience, one of the most rewarding aspects for me was the opportunity to bond with other sophomore Bonners. Coming into the trip, I only knew six of the ten other students who were attending. By the end of the experience, all of the students and staff members had formed a close bond. I am truly grateful that I had the chance to get to know these amazing individuals. Each has something unique and important to bring to the table. The sophomore class trip to Richmond, VA was an amazing experience and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to attend.

Alyssa Brent