- Hannah

Alaska Is...

      Alaska is…a beautiful place that everyone should see.  The people sitting at home should see this.  I am, well, was, one of those people.  A computer-aholic.  After experiencing Alaska, I want to change that.  Not many people get to see this.  I’m lucky I get to see Alaska.  I wish people could see what I’m looking at.  Pictures just aren’t the same.  Looking at the mountains along the bay right now, I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as this.  I used to think driving through Tennessee was great.  But when I saw Alaska, I changed my mind.  When I climbed those mountains, I wanted to sit there for hours, and never move.  Looking at Alaska makes me realize what I’m thankful for.  Mom and Dad, if you read this, I wish you were here to experience what I’m seeing on this three week adventure.  Yes, I want to go home, but this wonderful place makes me want to see more.  Like Steve says, “If you’re going to see Alaska, you’ve got to drive.”  And once again, Steve’s right.
            When people asked other kids why they didn’t apply to Alaska, most of their responses were, “I don’t want to waste my summer in Alaska.”  You are NOT wasting your time.  If you tell me climbing a mountain, seeing bears up close, watching sea animals in the ocean, and touching a glacier is a waste of your summer, then I think you’re wasting your life.  Who ever thought that I could see snow in June?  No one, right?  But I made seeing Alaska possible. 

Final Reflections

I’m very thankful for Ishtar setting up this trip.  I would have never come without him.  I’ve had so much fun meeting new people and trying new things.  My favorite memory was climbing the two mountains and how good I felt after I got to the top.  I will never forget what the picture of the mountains looked like.  I will also never forget how I almost got eaten by a bear or how we almost hit a moose.  Those were my highlights.  AGLP 2009 started a new tradition at the lake near Hatcher’s Pass: jumping in the lake of freezing cold water.  I’m so glad I went in and also stuck my head in the river.  Here on the last day, I feel like crying.  No, not because I miss everyone back home, but because I’m going to miss Alaska.  I’ve made new friends and had fun with everyone.  I’m so glad that I was able to come.  This trip really was the best thing that happened to me.  This summer will be one of the best summers I will have.  The other one will be when I come back as a junior leader.  I’m really glad I was a part of AGLP 2009.  Now I can say my name was on the back of one of the AGLP t-shirts.  Thanks for a wonderful trip, everybody!