I was born in Port Townsend Washington in 1982. I was raised in Quilcene. I was able to read and write at a college level since I was in the second grade but I was always behind in math. I never had to take standard math classes so I graduated high school doing math at a tenth grade level.
I came to Evergreen to take advantage of the independent curriculum and the independent contracts. My first class here was "History: a Celebration of Place," a Native Studies class. The class really changed my life in many ways. I really learned many great things about the Natives culture and their history.
I loved Native American history so much that I took "Destiny: Welcoming the Unknown" my sophomore year. I really learned a great deal about the politics and policies that Native Americans have had to deal with since their oppression and I learned that I had a interest in politics. I became so interested in politics that I considered a career in the CIA after college.
I took a long look at my career choices over the last summer and I have come to the conclusion that I really want to help the Native Americans that are on reservations here in Washington. I would like to have a job assisting them with grants from the government. I would also like to help them defend their right to keep the money that they earn from casinos since the government really wants to create resolutions that will give them a unjust cut of the money. I want to use my somewhat unfair white privilege to make the playing ground fair for Native Americans. |
