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This was my second year doing the program and it was yet another year of amazing memories. I learned so much about scholarships that I didn’t know before. With this new knowledge, I feel more prepared for college and it’s a little bit less scary. I’m very thankful for this program, it makes me motivated to go to college and most importantly prepares me for a bright future. Tomorrow will be hard to leave all my close friends and all my new friends. During the program we all become so close and it’s always hard saying good bye. To close, I’d like to thank everyone who puts the program together, the elders who give us their time, and the students who participate in the program and make it complete. Thank you for another great summer!

I loved all the activities and ceremonies we had this year. So thankful for all the elders and all the people that are involved in the program. My second home is Wishtoyo and I am going to miss it so much. I hope I can come next year, for my senior year. Happy to go home, but also sad.

I don’t want to write to much because I might get emotional, going to miss scott, and all the mentors. I became really close to some of the other students, and I am truly grateful for them. Hope graduation goes well, and I want to pray that everyone has safe travels home.

The first week of the program I had a lot of interacting with my peers. I had a lot of fun with the mentors and I had a very good experience. One day in theatre we made a little alter and everyone put something on the alter and shared a story about what they put on the alter, after that some people got emotional (which I get) but as the program went on it seemed like everyday some one new would get emotional. I think that in the mornings as we got up really early to go play traditional games with hector it would give us energy as the day started. After the first week we traveled to Wishtoyo. Then went to Limu island for a few days, while the wifi barely worked I felt like i was able to bond with other people other than the people I already knew. I felt like we got closer after we weren’t in any dorms and had to be out with others Wishtoyo. Overall the program was really fun and for some reason I thought there would be more activities, I had really fun in all the classes but my favorite had to be blogging. Gina is so fun and taught me blogging is really fun. thank you Scott for giving me the opportunity to be apart of this program.

So today was my last day at the Pitzer native youth 2 college program, overall I had really fun at this program. I really benefited from all the college classes and learned so many new things. I made so many connections that will last even longer than just this program, not only with students but also with my mentors. I learned so much from these mentors and I just want to thank Scott and everyone in the program for giving me this opportunity to participate here. My favorite part of the program was having fun with everyone and learning at wishtoyo

Today we woke up painfully early to do our final indigenous games lesson with Hector. I was initially feeling groggy and not willing to run outside, but the lesson managed to immediately energize every cell in my body. As a reflection on these games, I can  say that I’m extremely grateful that there are people who are dedicating their time to keeping these ancient practices of indigenous games alive as an important component of our culture equal to language and ceremonies.

After breakfast we went to WesternU, due to a miscommunication ~kerfuffle~ on the specific leaving time, Maya and I got left behind. Thankfully, due to the company of a Nika led spontaneous guitar session and Belmont’s general awesomeness, what could’ve felt disastrous was actually quite beautiful.

At WesternU we learned about various emergency procedures for first aid/ fire safety. Even though this lesson was centered around a very serious topic about life threatening situations, our group still made this activity fun and memorable. Thanks to my overzealous shouting and running and then nearly killing of a mentor, Jade and I won a first aid obstacle course. My proof of this is the  WesternU yoyo that I will now covet forever like some type of magical artifact in an old Indiana Jones movie.

Bonus fact: I didn’t actually know how to yoyo before today and this new skill feels like something I definitely would need to put on my official resume.

We concluded the day with a hectic theatre class rehearsing this group dance thing that I barely stumbled through, as well as the speeches everyone will make. We got to become different animals and interact through screeches and growls while channeling our inner make-believe spirit. Its something I haven’t done in a while so it was definitely very interesting to try to once again capture that wild, imaginative, childhood side of me who could so easily transform into these jaguars and dolphins and snakes.

Welllll

That’s all for today, but in conclusion I would like to reiterate that I’m incredibly grateful. I feel like the air I’m breathing is lucky and I’m just thanking every possible sacred material in the universe for the company that I’m in. The strong connection’s I’ve made, thanking these stars for these amazing people and the memories I have with them that are now indelibly written on the insides of my heart.

I feel so lucky.

Thank you Pitzer

Traveling to Wishtoyo was very exciting for me because I had never been there before but was very excited to go. I couldn’t wait to see the ocean and the beautiful views that I’d see for the first time. But I really didn’t know what to expect once I got there. Anyway once we arrived at Wishtoyo I immediately felt the love and positive energy in that place as our caretakers sang as we all got off the cars. They gave us hugs like we were family and that we knew each other for a lifetime. They were all so loving and caring for us and it made me feel welcomed by these people I didn’t know. They made me feel like I was apart of there family which made my love grow for them even more. These people really made a huge impact on my life and I’ll always remember and cherish them in my heart. Because these people are good people, the kind of people you want in your life and the kind of people that’ll make you feel welcomed into their family. Also the food was AMAZING!!!!!!

By the way it’s Sabrina 🙂

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Hello everyone I hope you had  an amazing day dude. In these past few days its been great but everyday I felt it was a different emotion vibe and experience for me. I was given the opportunity to go to Wishtoyo and I was able to go on a sacred island with my peers and it was AWESOME. Wishtoyo was so much fun I really enjoyed myself and I was able to leave with knowledge and great vibes. We did activities and we did presentations and they gave us certain topics and we had to present it to the group and it was cool. But I think my favorite part about my trip was the food and the ceremonies that we had I really loved that. When I was in Wishtoyo we gathered all the ladies and we had a woman’s ceremony and OH MY GOSHHH that was really cool I felt all of us ladies we were all connecting spiritually and mentally and I felt it was a safe circle to express myself and to let out my emotions even if it was positive or negative. But everyone there was so kind and beautiful and `they were so supportive. It wasn’t my first time going but it was my first time going with Pitzer but I hope that I get to go again. And when I was on the island we did snorkeling and canoeing and that was cool but the water was sooooooo cold at first but I liked the canoeing better because it was so relaxing and the view was great and floating on the beautiful water was HOLOGRAPHIC POTATOES man. Also we were able to hike on sacred land and it was cool and being able to do that I was  very lucky and it was one heck of an experience and its something that I will never forget. Anyways that was my box knox and Im just very thankful that I got to experience this and to participate THANK YOU PITZER oh yeah and HAPPY BDAY SABRINA.

SALAD DAYS ARENT OVER.

 

During my time at Wishtoyo, I learned about all these issues that impact the native communities and nations.We were working on a declaration to change the future of the native people. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete it, but we have decided to continue our research. This was a great experience in terms of working with other people who are in my generation. My biggest take away from Wishtoyo was the men ceremony. It was really good hearing other men talking about their experience, opinions, and advice. My biggest take away from Limuw Island was the run through. I ran with a mentor and a peer. It was a really great experience seeing everything through my eyes and so close up. I believe the run was about 3 miles. Limuw and Wishtoyo are really similar because they have indigenous history and memories. The only thing that was different was the type of environment. The air felt much fresher in Limuw than in Wishtoyo. Overall, this was a great experience.

At Wishtoyo i learned so much about the Chumash people. The first night was amazing as we were greeted in with a traditional song and that alone was an honor to me. the next day we left to Limu Island. we walked about three miles just to get to where we were staying, after some of us bonded over some games of pool. The next day we went down to the beach. On our last day on the island we went kayaking and snorkeling, I personally liked kayaking more because it was more easier and fun than snorkeling.As we were on our way back to where the boat leaves us we saw a lot of dolphins and saw a wale, it was really amazing because i never seen a wale. On our second to last day at Wishtoyo we had an all men’s ceremony and it was really encouraging to hear what the elders had to give us as advise. overall my time at both Wishtoyo and Limu island was really amazing and id like to thank them all for having there with them

A first time experience for me was not feeling important as a woman, I felt put down and it’s the first time I’ve ever cried in a situation like that. It’s the first situation I’ve ever had like that. When we came back from the Island we had a woman’s meeting and it was really emotional for me. I felt powerful being surrounded by strong women. I cried for my spirit. I cried for what I’ve been through in this body of mine and I cried for the future. I have a deep respect and compassion for everyone in that prayer ceremony and I will always think of that day and how good it made me feel.

My biggest take-away from Wishtoyo is a necklace that my original mentor, from 3 years ago, gave to me. She is the first person to ever bring me out of my shell. If she wasn’t my mentor then I think I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today.

My biggest take-away from Limwu island is walking through the cave. I felt like I was in the goonies and it also was the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I appreciate the experience.

I cried a lot and I hate the feelings and situations that caused me to cry but this trip has been all about finding myself, and I’m still in the process of that. It was a great experience and I had a ton of fun. I will take these memories with me as I start my adult life.