Guest Blogger - Shannon Kappes
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| "Upper Iowa University has helped me accomplish my dream.." |
Getting the chance to live in Alaska has been a dream of mine for
about five years. It’s all I ever thought about. When I first visited Upper
Iowa University, I heard about the required internship in my Conservation
Management major, and I asked if I would be able to do my internship in Alaska.
The answer to that question was, "You can do your internship wherever you
want!" I saw this as an open door to my dream. This was something that I
knew I wanted, and I had the drive, the passion, the determination, and the
strength to make this dream come true. I spent countless hours searching online
and making phone calls for the perfect internship in Alaska. I started my
search in August and didn't get this job until January, and now, here I am.
Sitka is located on Baranof Island along the Inside Passage of
Southeast Alaska. I have been here for about 2 weeks now and will be
staying until August 7th. I am doing my internship at Halibut Point State Park
as a volunteer park host/park ranger assistant, and so far I am having an
awesome time. Living in my cozy cabin on the beach is a dream come true. I have
an amazing view of the ocean and the volcano, Mount Edgecumbe.
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| My Extra Tuff Rain Boots |
Work keeps me pretty busy. I am based out of Halibut Point State
Park, but we have several other parks in which we work for Alaska State Parks.
You never know what you will be doing and it depends on the weather. I've
done everything from digging drainage ditches along hiking trails to cleaning
up litter and painting park benches. It rains a lot here since it is a
rainforest, but when we have a nice sunny day, it is GORGEOUS! This
is an unpaid volunteer position, but I have free housing in the cabin along
with heat, hot water, laundry, electricity, and a lot of help from my boss to
make sure I'm always comfortable and happy here. He even got me my
own pair of Extra Tuff rain boots just like all the locals wear, so now I
feel like I fit in! I greatly appreciate it. The work can sometimes leave
you very sore and exhausted after a long day, but I love what I do. I feel good
knowing that I'm taking care of the parks and trails in order
for the public to enjoy nature. I go to bed feeling like I had a very
productive day, and I wake up with a smile on my face knowing that I am living
my dream. If you can go to bed and wake up loving your life and what you do,
I view that as a success.
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| Cabin for me and the Squirrels |
Living in Alaska is definitely an eye
opener. Although it is part of the United States, it sometimes feels like a
foreign country! The price of groceries (especially dairy
products) here is much higher than back home. The time difference has
definitely thrown me off especially with the 17 hours of sunlight each day. Being
about 3,000 miles from home has been very difficult. I miss my family and
friends more than anything. It's been difficult to keep in touch with everyone
since I only have internet on the state computer in the park office, so that
means no Facebook. But I'll admit that living a quiet, secluded life in a small
cabin has been kind of peaceful. I know that I will be home before I know it,
and then I will miss being here! I have already been asked to return next
summer, but we'll see! I have also seen a lot of wildlife that I would have
never gotten to see back at home in Iowa. I've seen sea lions, starfish,
jellyfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs, clams, minks, and Alaska's HUGE
slugs...(Yikes!) I can't forget the red squirrels that are currently living in my
attic and creating quite a bit of noise up there. I haven't run into any
grizzly bears yet, thank goodness! I do have my bear spray to protect me, just
in case.
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| View from my Cabin |
I believe a person can spend their
whole life wishing and hoping on stars, but it takes hard work and faith in
yourself to get things accomplished. A few years ago, I made a Bucket List.
Number one on that list was "Complete an internship in Alaska." At
the age of 19, with the help of UIU, I have officially crossed off #1 on my
Bucket List. I do not see this as a stopping point. I see this as
a point in my life where I ask myself, "What's next?" As my wise
cousin once put it, "If you climb to the top of a mountain, don't stop.
Find a bigger mountain to climb." Upper Iowa University has helped me
accomplish my dream, but that is not the only thing that they will help me
achieve. I will always find the next goal to work towards, and I will know that
my college stands behind me 100%. I cannot express the amount of gratitude
that I have for Upper Iowa University and my professors who have helped me
with this internship. Thank you Dr. Haines and Dr. Klann! This has truly been
the opportunity and experience of a lifetime. I will continue to enjoy my
adventure, and I hope everyone is having a great summer in the "Lower
48!"
Shannon Kappes
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