SDC Essay Alaska

Amia’Lynn Renee Stuckey
Kansas City, MO
University Academy

Hi, my name is Amia’Lynn Renee Stuckey and I recently returned from my Student Diplomacy Corps program in Alaska learning about wildlife, oceanography, climate change and the Tlingit Native American culture and language. Over the duration of this experience, my relationship with nature has really changed and deepened to another level. Before going I already had a love for nature, but I did not have a deep understanding of how it really works together like a web. Every little thing in nature contributes to something else, making it completely functional as a whole.

Our college lessons with Professor Scott Ramsey and the Tlingit community really put it in perspective how much nature has an impact on our lives, and how much we depend on it. Salmon, for example, are a big part of Alaska culture and economy. There are many ways that salmon have cultural and economic benefits. One of these benefits is that Alaska is wildly popular for its bears and eagles, which mainly feed on Salmon. Bears and eagles bring many tourists to Alaska which helps out economically. To add on, more benefits would be that the local Tlingit people fish for Salmon which helps them feed their families. The salmon also help give forests and trees nitrogen. Not only is Salmon represented in much of Tlingit art, but the Tlingit also make sure to share a sacred respect for all of nature.

Homesteading with our hosts Seth and Katie really taught me a lot about what you can do with what nature gives you. Everything at the Tidelines center where we stayed for the Inian Island part of the program was hydropower. And a lot of what they ate was grown locally or caught. During the homestead, we helped with gardening, learned how to make natural kombucha, helped cutting trees, learned how to gut a fish to cook it and helped with making and cleaning up after community meals. All these skills helped me to appreciate not only nature but the work it takes to live surrounded by it.

In addition to learning about these amazing topics , I also learned about myself as a person and how to grow. Being in a new environment with completely different people was really challenging in the beginning, but my team was a fundamental part of my growth in Alaska. Before boarding the plane in Kansas City to Seattle to meet my group and leader, I was extremely nervous about how my group would fit together and my part in the process. Fortunately for me, I was blessed with a group of amazing people from all parts of the country and different American cultures. On day one we made it our goal to get to know each other. The best thing about summer was being able to connect with a new group of people and watch not only myself grow but everyone else as well.

This program took everyone out of their comfort zones and allowed them to develop better social and emotional skills. These skills will further help me in college and life.

To add on, I really pushed myself past many obstacles and deepened my determination and perseverance skills including both mental and physical. Some examples of this would be when we went hiking up steep mountains after Kayaking. It was hard taking those huge steps with my and having to climb so high, but I continued to go through and it was really worth it. Another example presented itself towards the end of the trip when everyone was getting homesick, but we all pushed through it despite how we were feeling emotionally.

My SDC trip to Alaska has also given me the ability to adapt to change and stay calm in moments of stress or under pressure. For example, we had to do a presentation on things we were learning, but presenting has always been stressful for me. This time was an exception due to my professor and SDC group making it a safe environment and encouraging me. The Alaska experience not only helped me, but my group as a whole. We all entered the program with our own personal problems that were affecting us, and the way we did things in life, but towards the end everyone’s emotional and physical health was amazing. I could never ask for a more amazing group, they showed me parts of myself that I didn’t even know I had and pushed me positively. Additionally, they taught me a lot of things that they have and do in their states and cultures that we don’t have here in Missouri. It was incredibly cool to see how we have different versions of the same concept of things. Things like games, foods and activities that we do slightly differently in different states. They really helped open my eyes to different cultures and different versions of myself.

Last but not least, my favorite parts was Kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and experiencing the Fourth of July in Alaska. Kayaking really felt peaceful to my soul and I loved seeing all the sea lions and seals. I enjoyed snorkeling and hiking because it was a new experience and an experience I’ve never really done before.  The festival in Alaska on the Fourth of July really showed the community and native american cultures in Alaska. I overall enjoyed spending time with my group no matter what we were doing and having that shared experience with my group, Tlingit hosts and professors. Even something as simple as riding in the van or hanging outside was an experience that I will always cherish. From collectively singing karaoke together to jumping in the ice cold lake at once, I enjoyed it all. I will forever be thankful for this experience and have love for my people.