In 2016 I ventured into the Rural Human Services (RHS) Program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks which has provided me with a tremendous number of differing perspectives, approaches, and coping techniques. The RHS program incorporates Westernized structures of education with cultural and indigenous methods of learning. By providing us with this specific learning environment, our instructors are essentially allowing us to learn from one another through this program. Each individual is building their groundwork for healing and an understanding of what is needed in this field through experience. We are healing ourselves by working the material and the resources so that we can speak from experience when we explain to our clients it takes time, dedication, patience, and hard work but that change is possible. I have learned so much over the last two years and am excited and eager to continue learning how I can better myself to advocate for and empower others. I graduated in March 2018 with my certificate in Rural Human Services and in May 2020 with my Associate of Applied Science Degree in Social Work. I am in pursuit of my bachelor’s degree and obtaining a Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate, as well as becoming a certified Behavioral Health Aide. My employment and educational goals are similar, as I aspire to bring about healing to my community members and develop within our hometown an understanding of the trials our generations have faced along with reminders of resilience and strength that has been passed down as well. By really putting my best foot forward, being honest with myself and trusting in the process, I stand grounded with an appreciation for my past and hope for the future. I aspire to provide individuals a safe space and constant support and tools for them to explore their lives. As an Alaska Native woman, as a Tlingit and Inupiaq mother, it is our cultural values to do everything with the next generations in mind and close to heart, and as I continue my educational and work endeavors, I am constantly reminded of the stigmas and barriers placed on mental health awareness. If I can show my daughters through my own personal journey the beauty in vulnerability and the power in conversations, then I hope to leave a legacy of hope for my girls to hold close to. At the end of my journey, I hope to leave them with a vision of their mom that they can recall as someone who always held onto hope and was willing to work hard to give them an amazing life and leave an incredible future for her grandkids and great-grandbabies. I hope to be an elder who speaks hope and wisdom and provides a space of comfort and safety for anyone who needs it.

December has always been a contradictory month for me, in-between my two favorite holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a holiday season supposed to be full of joy and wonderment, magic, and hope. On December 5, 2011, I lost my best friend in the whole world, Aaron John, to suicide. Growing up in a small town, you tend to form connections with the kids you grow up with. In our dynamics, we all came from households involving some sort of dysfunction and created our own family within our circle of friends. Aaron John and I had the type of friendship where we could look at one another across the room and we’d both just smile. He was the friend who was there for me when I needed someone most and acknowledged my faults and fears in the midst of my chaos. I never once needed to ask for help, he knew me better than I knew myself and was always there to create a safe space or to share in the adventures and joys of life. I will never forget the darkness that followed the shock of losing Aaron John, I relive it every year. Adding to the confusion and pain of December, I lost my fiancé to alcoholism on December 4th, 2021 and my grandfather who raised me on December 7, 2021. My approach to mental health had always been confusing in my thought process was always “if I don’t understand it, how can I explain my thoughts and emotions in a way that will make sense to someone else?” I struggled with that mentality of “I don’t talk” and contributed to the stigmas of not understanding or believing in the process of healing, that things are the way they are and that’s just the way it is. My hurt in losing my only safe space to talk and explore the hard emotions eventually led me to the decision of learning, not letting go of the hurt because it’s always at the core of everything I do to this day, but learning to face every day with a hopeful approach and Aaron John close at heart by my side every step of the way. In 2016 I ventured into the Rural Human Services (RHS) Program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks which has provided me with a tremendous number of differing perspectives, approaches, and coping techniques. This program incorporates Westernized structures of education with cultural and indigenous methods of learning. By providing us with this specific learning environment, our instructors are essentially allowing us to learn from one another through this program. Each individual is building their groundwork for healing and an understanding of what is needed in this field through experience. We are healing ourselves by working the material and the resources so that we can speak from experience when we explain to our clients it takes time, dedication, patience, and hard work but that change is possible. I have learned so much and am excited and eager to continue learning how I can better myself to advocate for and empower others. I graduated in March 2018 with my certificate in Rural Human Services and in May 2020 with my Associates of Applied Science Degree in Social Work. I am in pursuit of my bachelor’s degree and obtaining a Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate, as well as becoming a certified Behavioral Health Aide. My employment and educational goals are similar, as I aspire to bring about healing to my community members and develop within our hometown an understanding of the trials our generations have faced along with reminders of resilience and strength that has been passed down as well. By really putting my best foot forward, being honest with myself and trusting in the process, I stand grounded with an appreciation for my past and hope for the future. I aspire to provide individuals the safe space and constant support and tools for them to explore their lives. As an Alaska Native woman, as a Tlingit and Inupiaq mother, it is our cultural values to do everything with the next generations in mind and close to heart, and as I continue my educational and work endeavors, I hope to show my daughters through my journey the beauty in vulnerability and the power in conversations. I hope to leave them with a vision of their mom that they can recall as someone who always held onto hope and was willing to work hard to leave an incredible future for her grandkids and great-grandbabies. I hope to be an elder who speaks hope and wisdom and provides a space of comfort and safety for anyone who needs it, just as Aaron John did for me.

15 years ago I was blessed with my best friend, my beautiful babygirl (Sarah Jay). Her father and I split when she was about 4 years old, presenting a dynamic that was not always pretty. However, I have been blessed with strong women role models in my life, both my grandmothers were extremely hard workers and instilled in me a work ethic of providing for my family. 3 years ago I was blessed yet again in taking in my daughter’s best friend (Leona) after her father passed away from cancer and her mother was unwilling to take her back to Montana with her. I consider myself blessed that Leona chose me as her safe space, allowing me to be a part of her healing journey. My girls are my world, both my daughters have my whole heart. In 2016 I ventured into the Rural Human Services (RHS) Program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks which has provided me with a tremendous number of differing perspectives, approaches, and coping techniques. The RHS program incorporates westernized structures of education with cultural and indigenous methods of learning. By providing us this specific learning environment, our instructors are essentially allowing us to learn from one another through this program. Each individual is building their groundwork for healing and an understanding of what is needed in this field through experience. We are healing ourselves by working the material and the resources so that we can speak from experience when we explain to our clients it takes time, dedication, patience, and hard work but that change is possible. I have learned so much the last two years and am excited and eager to continue learning how I can better myself to advocate for and empower others. I graduated in March 2018 with my certificate in Rural Human Services and in May 2020 with my Associates of Applied Science Degree in Social Work. I am in pursuit of my bachelor’s degree and obtaining a Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate, as well as becoming a certified Behavioral Health Aide. My employment and educational goals are similar, as I aspire to bring about healing to my community members and develop within our hometown an understanding of the trials our generations have faced along with reminders of resilience and strength that has been passed down as well. By really putting my best foot forward, being honest with myself and trusting in the process, I stand grounded with an appreciation for my past and hope for the future. I aspire to provide individuals a safe space and constant support and tools for them to explore their lives. As an Alaska Native woman, as a Tlingit and Inupiaq mother, our cultural values guide us to do everything with the next generations in mind and close to heart, and as I continue my educational and work endeavors, I am constantly reminded of the stigmas and barriers placed on mental health awareness. If I can show my daughter’s through my own personal journey the beauty in vulnerability and the power in conversations, then I hope to leave a legacy of hope for my girls to hold close to. At the end of my journey, I hope to leave them with a vision of their mom that they can recall as someone who always held onto hope and was willing to work hard to give them an amazing life and leave an incredible future for her grandkids and great grandbabies. I hope to be an elder that speaks hope and wisdom and provides a space of comfort and safety for anyone who needs it.