I imagine my five-year-old self arriving in a faded cartoon T-shirt, pants, sneakers, already marked by dirt. He would order a coconut-based drink, sit forward in his chair, and begin asking questions.
“Do you still draw?”
Not as much, I would tell him. Still, that part of me never disappeared. I continue to love music, meeting people, and noticing small details that others may overlook. The curiosity is there, too. He always wanted to see what was beyond the place directly in front of him, and I have carried that instinct into every new city, classroom, or opportunity.
He would probably be surprised by Washington, D.C., the Capitol, the museums, the Department of Energy. It would all sound too large. I think he would ask how I got there. The honest answer would involve God and the many people who chose to help me along the way. I would tell him to protect those relationships and never become too shy to ask questions. Most people are willing to help someone prepared to work beyond what is expected.
However, my goals have changed since then. I still pursue things that are difficult to reach, but I no longer believe every worthwhile moment must feel difficult. This summer reminded me that there is value in an ordinary lunch, a long walk, or a conversation that changes how I see another. At the DOE, meeting my co-intern captured that perfectly, honestly. Our lives followed very different routes, yet we arrived at the same office at the same time. Working beside someone with another background made me more attentive to how many paths can lead to one place.
My younger self would recognize something else during my visit to the Grow Early Learning Center in Pennsylvania. Seeing the children made me think about my own time in MSHS. Once I returned home, I asked my mom to send me pictures of me in the fields, as I wanted to see the child that I could barely remember. Near the end of the summer, I walked off to the National Mall again. Even after visiting more than once, it still offers me something new. I would tell the boy across from me that growing up is not only about reaching the next difficult goal. Sometimes it’s about slowing down long enough to recognize that you are where you already wish to be.
Blog Author: Freddy Bautista-Molina – Class of 2026
Published on August 3, 2026