Participant Perspectives

       On June 13, 55 students set out to take an adventure of a lifetime in Alaska. Some students were going on the trip for the beauty of it. Others were going on the trip for the thrill of being away from home for three weeks or to change as a person, but some students had no clue what they wanted to gain from the trip before they went or what to expect of it. This adventure is the Alaska Great Lakes Project.
        Before Jules Hinske went on the trip she knew exactly what she wanted to gain and what to expect of Alaska. “I expected Alaska to be basically amazing. I expected the trip to also change me and make me a better person,” Jules said. “Alaska is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I don’t think I have changed as a person so far. I think that part will come more towards the end of the trip or even after.”
        For Kate Belew, she has already seen the changes in herself throughout the trip. She says that she can already see herself becoming more independent. “I think that I’ve become so much more independent from my parents always doing stuff for me,” Kate said. “I’ve also become closer to my friends because of the trip and have made new friends.”
Andrew Debrabander has a sibling on the trip and in his opinion this makes his experience different than others. “I would rather not have my sibling on this trip because the point of the trip to me is about learning to be independent and to be away from my family,” Andrew said.
        In order to help the kids change in a positive way and make their experience a wonderful one the Alaska Great Lakes Project needs Junior Leaders. “I love being a junior leader,” Roni Ranville said. “I like making the kids’ experiences as good as mine was.”
        Sam Howard is a junior leader who came back to Alaska for her fifth time. “Coming back makes me appreciate things so much more for my fifth time because I didn’t come last year. I am very lucky to be here,” Sam said.
        Every kid has been changing in many different ways throughout the Alaska trip. “The best part about this trip to me is that I am learning more about myself everyday when it comes to pushing myself to try new things,” Taylor Roberts said. “So far, I have expanded my friendships with a lot of people and I have learned a lot of new things out about myself. If you are given an opportunity than you should definitely take it because this trip was an opportunity that I am glad I didn’t pass up!”