“I loved it, and it was a great experience,” said senior Raeshundra Crowell, who added that she especially enjoyed the CNN Studios tour, since it offered a behind-the-scenes look at television production.

For senior Marleni Reyes, the aquarium held the most allure, followed by the governor’s house and the Anna Maria College.

Reporting to be a true sports guy, senior Matthew Manuel raved about visiting Turner Field, the ballpark for the Atlanta Braves.

Junior Jocelyn Livingston called everything fun.

Senior Khalila Goodman thought the hotel was nice and Underground Atlanta a fun place to buy souvenirs for her family members and shoes.

“I enjoyed seeing the different campuses, and the Jefferson and Martin Luther King Memorials,” said Potts, who enjoyed meeting Ben Carson, MD, who triumphed over a difficult childhood to become a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The trip included visits to Virginia and Baltimore.

“It was a very good experience, and I would love to go again,” Potts said.

Riley also talked about the challenges of growing up and hearing people say negative things about his future and how that motivated him.

“Make it your point to succeed,” Riley said. “Invest in your future. You are the CEO of your life. I’m going to direct my own path.”

“It’s a lot of responsibility, but I am up for it,” Johnson said. “I know the job like the back of my hand. I like to make sure my job is done to the best of my abilities.”

The senior plans to major in business and music when he enters college in the fall, as preparation for starting his own company.