Last week Leonard and I drove down to Homer so I could attend an Ageya Wilderness Education camp held for Alaska Native youth, and for a whole weekend I got to spent my time interacting with students from Kwethluk, Tuluksak, St. Marys, Grayling, and Scammon Bay, as well as with students from the Anchorage School District who have roots stemming from Inupiaq, Aleut, and Tlingit. There is nothing cooler or more inspiring than seeing 13-15 year old students working together to make kayaks, harvest plants to make medicine, read fish, and learn how to find balance and set goals as they approach high school. One thing this camp strongly emphasized, and something I personally appreciated, was mistakes and how its okay to make them because what matters is what you do with those mistakes afterwards. During my time at Ageya I also dont think Ive braided so much hair or have seen so much flirting in my life lol. The joys of young teenagers. Being around these students was a good reminder for why Im choosing a career in education, and was a strong push for me to keep going. Every time I interact with students who hold Alaska Native roots I get to meet the people that keep me motivated as I take on college and life. Its always a privilege. Ill be heading back to Homer for the wrap up of the camp and am looking forward to seeing their growth as a group and as unique individuals.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:16:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015