Sam is from Nikiski, AK and was a student at the 2020-2021 Outer Coast Year.
Before arriving at Outer Coast, Sam reflected: “I told my teachers that after high school, if I got a job it would probably be at the sandwich chain that my uncle works at. They encouraged me to think bigger. I don’t know if I am ready for a big college, and [the Year] is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to see the possibilities that are out there for me.”
At Outer Coast, Sam says they gained both support and independence. “I definitely became more independent, which was my goal from the beginning. That definitely happened. And I felt pretty supported here. Some of my teachers back home would support me, but they wouldn’t constantly check in on me like staff and faculty here would. Now I know that wherever I go, someone will be there to support me.”
After 9 months in Sitka, Sam returned home to Nikiski and is now working at a restaurant as they plan their next steps.