The junior leaders of the Alaska Great Lakes Project have traveled far and wide over Alaska. We have been to Fairbanks, Homer, Palmer, Seward, and Denali, where we faced adventure around every corner.
      During our stay in Denali at the Grizzly Bear Campground, we faced one of the most fun, and extreme things we've done. We went white-water rafting on the Nenana river. There, I met Shaw. Shaw was our rafting guide down the intimidating rapids of the Nenana River.
      Shaw Kenneth Brown is a twenty-five year old from New Hampshire. He explained to me as we rushed down the waters of the river his story. He moved out of his New Hampshire home to Montana. One of his friends offered him a job working as a ski instructor. After working in Montana, Shaw found out about a job offering in Alaska as a white-water river rafting guide.
      This was a common hobby of his. As a teenager, Shaw often went rafting with his friends. He told me of when he would go to a local Wal-mart with his friends and buy an inflatable raft. They would go rafting all day, and by the end of the day, there would be no raft. With a smile, he explained that it was worth it.
      Shaw has grown to love rafting. He explained to me that he likes the sense of thrill and adventure. He enjoys all of the different things he sees on his trips down the rapids. He told me of one time, during his one year of working on the Nenana River, the mishap of one caribou. He was with some his friends on the raft, when they turn a bend to find a caribou drinking water. All of the sudden, the animal got swept off its feet, being carried away by the rushing water. Fortunately, the caribou survived. Shaw explained to me that though there is a lot to see and do in Alaska. Also, there are a lot more things he would like to do in his life.
      On the topic of his future Shaw explained to me his plans. He will go with his friend from Nepal in one month, to Iceland to white-water raft. He will stay there until September or October. Continuing on, he will travel to the Honduras, also to white-water raft. Shaw does not yet know what he will do with his life thereafter, but I have no doubts that it will be very exciting and adventurous. One of the many things I learned from Shaw, was that you can do what you love, and make so much out of it, it never has to be boring.