I am someone that often thinks about the arbitrary nature of our existence. Because of that, I can better prioritize what I spend my time and energy on in my daily life. With this philosophy, I actively identify and express my appreciation and admiration for even the simplest things that bring me joy. One thing that brings me simple joy is helping others. I would like to present this line of advice to anyone who may struggle with personal happiness. Whenever you can, follow this famous quote by Marie Kondo, an organization consultant: "Does this spark joy?" Kondo's technique involves carefully examining the objects in your home environment and stating whether or not they spark joy and removing the unnecessary. I think this technique can be used on examining your own behaviors and actions as well. Reflect and identify the ways you conform to society around you. Ask yourself why you follow or don't follow certain norms. Are you holding yourself back from experiencing your true simple pleasures? Are you participating in something you don't have to do for some arbitrary reason? It is important to remember that whatever you choose to do or say should not cause actual harm to anyone. Take a moment to identify what brings you joy, no matter how small it is. Give yourself space to express your joy, either by yourself or to others. One way I do this is by discussing linguistics with a close friend who shares this interest. Ask others what their simple pleasures are! This works great for bringing the mood up. Next time you check in with someone, ask them about what good things have happened since you last talked. Acknowledge your needs as a social creature and make the best of it.

I enjoy arts and crafts of several different mediums-- I've worked with wood, felt, cardboard, and wire, and have practiced my drawing and painting skills as well. Making crafts makes me feel relaxed and productive, and often makes for great interior decorating or gifts for others. A common part of my life is to cycle through mediums like they are seasons of the year. As a member of the Tlingit & Haida tribe of South East Alaska, I have learned our traditional art form of Formline design and carving and am now recognized as a Certified Tribal Artist. Studying my ancestor's art forms is a great passion of mine and has led to not only gaining more knowledge about my heritage but also expanding my philosophy on what art and language are. My most outstanding works include my College graduation cap which sports a painted cardboard design of an Eagle and a Raven in Formline style and a current work of progress-- the design on my Godfather's drum. This drum, which is my first and only art commission, was made by my Godfather about ten years ago out of buckskin and a wooden rim. When he discovered that I was making our culture's artwork he sent me his drum in the mail and I took to designing and painting a grand Raven bird on the front. From this experience, I've learned that I would not be taking commissions like most artists would (with few exceptions). Because of my craft medium cycle and my need to rest from certain projects, an art commission with a specific deadline and requirements would be too much for me. As it is, I enjoy making art on my own time on my own terms rather than doing it as a career.

I am, by nature, a gift-giver and an artist. My favorite way to show someone I care about them is by giving them a gift that I made myself for birthdays, Christmas, and other occasions. For one Christmas, I designed and carved a wooden bar sign for my Father's basement. For a friend's birthday, I sewed a felt figurine of her favorite video game character. For another friend's graduate school acceptance, I crafted a thick cardboard placard of the university's logo with a note of how proud I am of her on the back. While I can't always craft a gift for every person on every occasion, giving a handmade gift feels more genuine than any other thing I can buy. Anticipating others' needs is something I try to keep in mind. I do my best to avoid cracking my knuckles around a friend with sensory issues who can't stand that sound. Before I leave my shared apartment to visit my grandmother I clean the living space and hug my roommates 'goodbye.' When a friend leaves I tell them to text me when they get home so I know they're safe. After a long drive, I text both parents to let them know I'm all right. Every so often, I remind myself that everything in life is temporary and that the folks I love and care about won't be around forever. Because of this, I don't hold back from being bold with "I love you's" and giving hugs. I try to put myself in others' shoes when I think of ways to show I love them. Sending postcards from places I visit and holiday letters to friends and family is a fun activity that keeps me grounded and gives others something fun to find in their mailbox.

As a child, I struggled with a language delay and because of that, I had difficulties listening to others. Because I was behind my peers socially, I would often withdraw into daydreams and would miss out on the instructions of my teachers and caretakers. At times it would take a lot of energy for me to stay in the moment and focus on what was going on. Active listening is a skill I had to learn-- part of it was self-motivated and part of it was taught to me by others. As I grew older I recognized how much I did not like it when others would refuse to actively listen to what I had to say. Due to this frustration, I was able to empathize with those in the same situation and I worked harder to take what they said into account and validate their ideas and feelings. This skill was also strengthened by my grandmother and my Counseling Skills class. As a child, my grandmother tutored me in math and reinforced the importance of understanding what the problem was asking for. This taught me that active reading and listening leads to more efficient problem solving, which improved my academic results greatly. During my Counseling Skills class as an undergraduate student, I was taught how to use active listening during consultations to help my future clients with their individual issues in the best way possible. Learning about the world is a lifelong experience, and without active listening and observation that can be hindered. Without this skill, we would often overlook or ignore opportunities and fail to form relationships with others. Active listening is key to finding solutions, showing others care and empathy, and strengthening one's understanding of the world around them. As social creatures, we humans rely on this.

My goal for the future is to be an active participant in Indigenous Language Revitalization, particularly for my tribe in South East Alaska. I am a member of the Tlingit & Haida tribe and was born in Juneau. My parents were able to gain financial stability after the tribe granted housing assistance and afterward, we were able to move to Ohio so my mother could pursue a better career opportunity. We moved when I was still 5 years old but I still held onto fond memories of the cold humid rainforest, the intricate totem poles, and the chilly glaciers. While I always knew I was Tlingit I didn't always understand what it meant. In the Summer of 2019, during a trip to my father's hometown of Wrangell, I recognized a need to reconnect with my heritage. As I was an undergraduate student in Speech-Language Pathology, I realized that my field would be immensely useful for Indigenous Language Revitalization. Using resources from Native Alaskan websites I started teaching myself the Tlingit language, Lingít. I learned that most Native American/ Alaska Native languages are at risk of extinction as most tribes have very few speakers, most of whom are elders. This crisis is important to me because I understand that language is the key to keeping our tribes strong and healthy. Loss of any language means a loss of knowledge and unique philosophies. For Indigenous people, knowing your language leads to higher rates of success, higher self-esteem, and cultural pride. As a future SLP, I can assist those who struggle with communication disorders or difficulties and help Indigenous individuals with their unique issues in learning their languages. I want to give my tribe and others the help they need to learn, use, and teach their languages, which will strengthen our communities.

My goal in education is to become a licensed Speech Pathologist working in my home region of South Eastern Alaska. As a member of the Tlingit & Haida tribe, I want to provide services for those with communication disorders with a focus on Indigenous languages. I realized my new goals after my last visit to Wrangell, Alaska in the Summer of 2019. I spent most of my life living in Ohio but every so often my family would go visit Wrangell or Juneau to see our relatives. While I always knew I was Tlingit, I didn't always know what it meant. During all of my trips to Alaska, I've always felt a connection to the land that I couldn't quite understand yet. After the 2019 trip, I realized I felt the need to reconnect with my tribe and culture and started teaching myself the Tlingit language. It has been difficult, as Lingít is endangered with only 200 fluent speakers and I was the only one in my direct family to start learning it. As hard as it's been, learning about my tribe's history and culture and our language has given me a special kind of inner strength. That special inner strength is vital medicine for the personal identities of Indigenous people-- it allows them to understand their heritage and to feel that pride of being part of it. I have read numerous studies that have shown the great benefits Indigenous students have gained when they were taught their ancestral languages compared to those who weren't. These benefits included higher rates of graduation, improved self-esteem, lowered alcohol abuse, and higher chances of success. But due to the history of colonization, the use of Indigenous languages in the U.S. has been damaged and attacked for decades. Most tribal communities have very few fluent speakers of their language, and most of them are elders. This is why Indigenous language revitalization is a critical issue-- we must protect our languages by strengthening our education systems so this precious medicine will not be lost forever. As I was earning my Bachelor's in Speech Pathology at Miami Oxford University, I started making connections between what I was learning in class with what I can do for my tribe's language revitalization efforts. I gained support and encouragement from the department's faculty and was given advice on what I can do to reach my goals more efficiently. I even found a brochure in the student lounge calling for Speech Therapists to come work in rural Alaskan schools. I believe that my future services can better help Indigenous communities and individuals that need Speech Therapy. I have the cultural background to have a deeper understanding of Indigenous issues than non-Native clinicians would, and my passion for this subject runs deep. I truly believe I will be working to strengthen Indigenous Language Revitalization for the rest of my life, in whatever way I can. I dream of creating educational materials in Lingít and other languages like coursework assignments, word games, puzzles, video games, short films, and more. I want to work with others in creating more content for Indigenous communities to learn from and enjoy. But in order to start practicing Speech Pathology, I would need to earn my Master's degree. I am going to start my Graduate program at the University of Akron in the Fall of 2022, where I will be further trained and educated in this field so I can achieve all of these academic and life goals.