The Path of Excellence

I came into this camp thinking that I wouldn't like any of it, and that I wouldn't learn anything. That was not the case. I learned more here about the culture and about myself then I did in the school year and this was only a twelve day camp.
I always somewhat knew that the Tlingit culture was dying out, but it never actually hit me until I came to this camp. I thought that I was just one person and that I couldn't make that much of a difference. So what if I didn't know the language, it would survive without me. I knew how to sing, dance, and do some artwork, I thought that would be enough.

David always told us that we were special and that we did matter. He had us say "I am special" over and over again, I just said it without any feeling or thought to it because I didn't believe it. In my mind I was still just one person that didn't matter and that couldn't make a difference. It didn't matter who told us that we were special, what teacher it was talking to us, or what elder. I just didn't believe it because I didn't want to believe it. Because in believing that I could make a difference and that I was special that meant that I would have to work for it. I would have to work to make a difference, I would have to do things to show myself that I am special, and I was not ready to do that.
Now that we reached the end of camp I realize that it is really up to us to carry on our culture. I always just thought that our elders would stick around, but they are getting older and older everyday, and if we don't do anything about it the culture and the language will die along with them and that will be the end of who we are as a people.
So now, even though it scares me to think of what is coming up ahead, I'm happy to say that I Am Special and that I Do Make a Difference.

Cora Danielson