About Me My Niece and Her Support Health Science College Dream Future Plans Connections Why are you here?
My name is Alysha Shondiin White, I am Diné Navajo, and I am 16 years old. I live in Albuquerque, NM, and I am a junior at Volcano Vista High School. I am addicted to movies and television shows: my favorite show is Saturday Night Live, which I have been watching since I was very little. I love the television network station NBC, and I have seen every comedy that aired on that station. My second favorite show is The Office starring the one and only Steve Carell. Currently, my favorite movie is Marvel’s The Avengers…and my favorite character from that movie is Iron Man…A.K.A. Robert Downey Jr.
My favorite late night television show is Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with the one and only Jimmy Fallon as the host. So, my three favorite actors, whom I love so much, are Steve Carell, Robert Downey Jr., and Jimmy Fallon. My family is very important to me because no matter what, they are always there for me to support me and help me get through all the hard times. My friends are so special and important to me because I’ve know them for a very long time and they are always there to make me laugh and make me smile. Every day, when I get to school, and I see their faces, I am overjoyed to see them because I know that God has blessed me with wonderful friends who love me like family.
Back at home, I have an 11 month-‐old niece named Calisyana George. She came into our lives last September, and I am so grateful to spend my days with her. She brings me joy every day and I always find a way to make her laugh. When she laughs, I laugh, and when she smiles, I smile. She helps me go forward in life because I want to be her role model. I want her to look up to me and be influenced by me to do her best in everything she does. I want her to learn from me and pass it down to her future sibling.
My niece is definitely one of the many blessings that have been given to me. I would do anything to make her happy and I want her to be grateful to have me as her I know she will grow up to be the best because aunt. already (at 11 months) she is learning to grow up and enjoy life: she learned to crawl and knows how to walk; she knows what comedy is (which I am proud of her); she knows how to talk to us and let us know what she needs; she knows how to pick up food and eat correctly. Already, she knows so much, and I hope she will learn more in the future. I love her so much, and I cannot wait to see what she will achieve in the future.
We went to Western University a couple of times throughout the program to learn about Diabetes. Before I went to Western, I had known very little about Diabetes, what the effects are, and how to prevent it. Now, I know a lot more about Diabetes and how it affects the Native American Community. I know more about how I can help my friends and family who have Diabetes. The activities that we did at Western University were pretty fun and hands-‐on, which I love.
After I graduate from a film school, I plan to immediately start selling scripts, producing films, directing films, and acting in films. I want to be involved in the filmmaking process as much as possible. My big dream is to become a writer for the show Saturday Night Live; ever since I started watching that show, I’ve always dreamt of working on the 8th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, writing sketches. This dream is huge for me, and I have prepared for so long, but it isn’t only up to me, it is up to Mr. Lorne Michaels on whether or not he wants to hire me. Hopefully, all my hard work and dedication will pay off in the end.
The Native Youth Pipeline has helped me meet many wonderful, new people. Within the first week, we all felt like family. We were all comfortable with each other, and talked to each other in the friendliest ways. We all knew each other’s names and personalities. By the second week, our relationships with each other grew even more. Pitzer College was the most
comfortable
setting
because
the
environment also helped our relationships grow: whenever it was free time, we were
either going to the pool to hang out, or talk to each other under the trees at the Mounds. So, it was nice to just be ourselves around each other, especially in the vans on the way to another destination.
The people I met here at Native Youth
Pipeline were incredible. I connected and had
fun experiences with each and every one of them. I loved going around and taking random pictures and videos of everyone because whenever I got an awkward or goofy pose of someone, they would laugh. When I made someone laugh, I felt happy inside because I my future job will consist of making people laugh, so in a way, I am preparing for my career. Everyone just seemed so happy while at the Pitzer Pipeline, and that’s what makes this summer program (and the people at the program) UNFORGETABLE.
I am here to learn new facts about things related in the medical field. I find the medical studies very interesting and even though I do not plan on going into that field, I still want to learn about it. When I was little, I was obsessed with human anatomy, astronomy, and marine biology. I had giant books of each and built a collection of those books. Late in my life, I became fascinated with movie production, and so I changed my career path. Every summer, I went to programs such as Native Youth Pipeline, and I enjoyed every program. I spend my summer every year with these programs, and so I am glad to be here. This summer was really fun: I got to go to St. Paul, Minnesota, to Chicago, Illinois, to Gambier, Ohio, and here, Claremont, California. This summer was filled with exciting experiences, and I am glad I got to have the opportunity to come to Native Pipeline.