Alaska Is:

Alaska is too much for words,
There’s none that I can say,
To describe what we are doing
And seeing every day.

We play padiddle in the van
And star wars back at camp.
We go hiking up tall mountains,
Even if the ground is damp.

The scenery is beautiful
With all its wilderness.
Its pretty skies and waters set
Alaska from the rest.

I’ll definitely miss it
When all is said and done.
The trip itself will probably
Be my most favorite one.

Final Reflection:

What I feel about Alaska is hard to put into words. Well, I say that because I pretty much already wrote in a journal entry. So, instead of trying to reword how I feel, I’ll just share my entry with you.

7/2/06

“ We are down to the final days of our trip. I have mixed feelings in that respect. For I know that when we are up here, things change. People grow when we are up here. I can’t help but wonder what will and will not change when our class takes that first step into our final four years of our lives there.

Life as I know it is changing all around me. Am I changing with it?

Knowing that in a matter of days I won’t be in such a great place makes my heart want to break. If I could I would take this whole experience and loop it, so it could play over and over and over again.

Hug time: one of the best parts of this entire trip. So crazy, but so important at the same time. I can guarantee that it will be the one thing that I miss the most. Sure, I will miss the mountains and the scenery, but there is nothing like that feeling I get when everyone is so…ready to show that they really care about you as you are. Just you. No makeup, fancy clothes, shaved legs, just you as you.

Right now I am close to tears. Just because of all of the people on this trip. But not because they’ve been mean or rude to me. Quite the opposite, in fact. Just because for once I don’t feel like I have to put any extra effort into feeling like I belong. I just fit. Like we are all part of one big jigsaw puzzle.

And I’ve decided that that is what we are.”