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Congratulations Seldovia Graduates! Part V of V – Aydana Omar
by Jenny Chissus
This week, we are honoring our 5 Seldovia graduates, Alexandria (Xandria), Aydana, Chaela, Kaitlyn and Taylor! 5 beautiful girls with 5 stories to share about their Seldovia experience in school and community! This is part I of V in a series this week! Graduation will be held at Susan B English school on May 20, 2014 at 4:00pm in the school gymnasium and all are welcome to celebrate with our graduates and families!
There is one exception as Aydana Omar will be leaving Seldovia for Kazakhstan on Monday, the day before graduation, so there will be a Community Graduation/Certificate Ceremony for her on Sunday, May 18th at the Sea Otter Community Center at 4:00pm, with a potluck to follow – and all are welcome!
Congratulations Aydana!
Gazette: What is your “Seldovia” story?
Aydana: My Seldovia story. Well, I didn’t even know about existence of Seldovia until last year. I was that lucky one who was chosen to live in this unique community. 1 year ago I would never imagine myself living in foreign country without my parents. But God gave me the chance to experience another life here in Seldovia.
I guess everybody has their Seldovia story. Mine is unique because I am an exchange student. I found out that I was coming to Alaska, Seldovia April 28th last year. I will be honest, I got scared, so did my parents, because I thought that Alaska is very cold, winter weather the whole year and I knew all those stereotypes about Alaska that a lot of people do. At first my parents refused to let me come here. They said that they would gladly allow me to go if it was another state. The rule of my program is that you can’t choose a family and can’t change it just because you don’t like the town or state. So, my parents said no, and as a temperamental teenager, I locked myself in the room and refused to talk to my parents. They thought about that for couple days and allowed me to go later. I arrived in Alaska on August 8th, and it was love at first sight. As I flew over the Alaskan mountains, I was fascinated by the amazing view.
Being in Seldovia gave me a lot of advantages. I was the part of co-ed volleyball team, basketball team, cheerleading crew and became Homecoming Queen! A lot of other exchange students from big cities like Anchorage ask me how do I like Seldovia ‘cuz it’s so small and there are no malls and movie theaters. And I always say “Seldovia is the most incredible and unique place and back in Kazakhstan I can go to lots of movies and malls but that will never replace walking at the beach, bonfires at the beach, driving a bike in town, breathing fresh cool air”.
Gazette: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Now, as a Senior – what do you want to be when you grow up? How has that changed?
Aydana: When I was little I had a dream to be a singer. When I became older I wanted to be a doctor. Well, I guess, my parents wanted me to be a doctor. They got everything planned. They thought that I would graduate high school, apply to medical university with scholarship and study there for 9 years. I kind of ruined their plans by doing an exchange year. I told them that I don’t want to a doctor. Now I want to study in US college for business and management and open my own little business and expand into a big company. That is my next dream after my dream to become an exchange student! Now I accomplished my first dream and I will start working hard to accomplish my second one.
Gazette: What are some of your favorite school memories? Seldovia memories?
Aydana: I have a lot of treasured school and Seldovia memories. My absolute memorable moments are the sport seasons and trips. I played basketball and volleyball and I got to be in a lot of places in Alaska. I love my teammates and it was so much fun travelling with them. When the entire high school travels together, that means there will be a lot of laughter and fun moments. I remember driving through the tunnel when we were going to Whittier. Everybody stuck their heads from the windows and started shouting really hard. I remember me and Jenna going to Dimond Center Mall and wearing the same pink onesies just to have fun. Jenna was my bus buddy and roommate buddy and it was so much fun with her. I remember bonfires with my friends at Outside Beach. I had an amazing year, here in Seldovia.
Gazette: What are your plans this summer? This next year?
Aydana: When I go back home, I will take my high school graduation exam. Afterwards I will move to the capital city, Astana, to study and live with my sister. I will find work there to raise money to buy my own apartment. I want to take free year after graduation to figure out everything, where I want to study, etc.
Gazette: Growing up requires a lot of help – who do you want to thank? Who made a big impression on you and has influenced you in a positive way? Who deserves a “Virtual Rose”?
Aydana: I would like to thank my host parents Shad and Tiffany Haller for helping me throughout my senior year. I am thankful to the Seldovia community for every single effort they’ve made to make our sports team trips possible. Thanks to my teammates and coaches for inspiring, teaching and making me better. I would like to thank Susan B. English school staff for their effort in my senior year. And thanks to my parents for raising me, dealing with me and helping in making my dreams come true!
Gazette: What would you do with your life if you KNEW you could not fail?
Aydana: If I knew that I couldn’t fail I would totally travel around the world. I would backpack the Europe first. I want to volunteer in Peace Corps. Travelling is my passion!
Gazette: Final thoughts?
Aydana: I’ve been here for only a year but I got everything I could possibly get from Seldovia. I will never forget peaceful and kind people who surrounded me, my beautiful senior girls, and Seldovia generally. It doesn’t matter where I will be, where I will live, Seldovia will always be my second home!
Congratulations Seldovia Graduates! Part IV of V – Alexandria Lauren Swick
by Jenny Chissus
This week, we are honoring our 5 Seldovia graduates, Alexandria (Xandria), Aydana, Chaela, Kaitlyn and Taylor! 5 beautiful girls with 5 stories to share about their Seldovia experience in school and community! This is part I of V in a series this week! Graduation will be held at Susan B English school on May 20, 2014 at 4:00pm in the school gymnasium and all are welcome to celebrate with our graduates and families!
There is one exception as Aydana Omar will be leaving Seldovia for Kazakhstan on Monday, the day before graduation, so there will be a Community Graduation/Certificate Ceremony for her on Sunday, May 18th at the Sea Otter Community Center at 4:00pm, with a potluck to follow – and all are welcome!
Congratulations Xandria!
Gazette: What is your “Seldovia” story?
Xandria: I was born in Homer but was raised in this itty bitty town for all my eighteen years and have loved every minute of it. I know kids my age say they don’t like this town or can’t wait to leave it, but honestly I love this little town and plan on living here for the rest of my life. I love Seldovia because to me, it is so beautifully simple. I’m a small town girl and this small town is just perfect for me. This community is so helpful and a part of everything, it makes me feel like I have one big family.
Gazette: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Now, as a Senior – what do you want to be when you grow up? How has that changed?
Xandria: When I was younger I wanted to be a figure skater but my dream was shattered when I realized I didn’t know how to figure skate. I quickly got over it and moved on to wanting to be paleontologist and then it was an archeologist and then a CSI. Now even though I am still interested in bones and such, I seem to be more into being a Forensic Psychologist or a Personality and Behavioral Psychologist. I am also into writing and have always enjoyed writing stories and creating characters. Of course I am also still waiting for my Hogwarts letter that must have been lost in the mail. (A girl can dream right?) Over the years I have thought and thought about what I wanted to be when I grow up and it seems to always change, so I am going to embrace not knowing right now and live life. One thing that I know I want to be for sure is a mom. (Not right now of course!) People say being a mom is the best job in the world, and one day, many years from now, that will be the job I want. But I have some things to do before that.
Gazette: What are some of your favorite school memories? Seldovia memories?
Xandria: This year was by far my favorite year of school. It’s just been my happiest year overall and it has left me with so many great memories. Most of my favorite memories come from sports trips like the mixed six volleyball trips or the basketball trips. This year we traveled with the boys every time so it was nice, the atmosphere was a bit even. This year we all got to know each other very well just from spending so much time together in school and on the weekends on sports trips. I am going to miss all those trips because so many of my cherished memories were made on them. We all have our inside jokes and stories about something funny that happened on them and those memories will always be with me. Like the time we stayed at KPC for regions and when the boys won regions. Or the time the girl’s team upset Lumen at regions. I will miss the long ferry rides, traveling by bus, early morning wake up calls, McDonalds/ Taco Bell/ Subway stops, and perhaps, what I will miss the most is the excitement we all share after our team gets a victory.
Gazette: What are your plans this summer? This next year?
Xandria: This summer, like always, I will head out to my 2nd home on Kalgin Island and set net fish at my family’s fish camp. I also plan on relaxing a little and enjoying the bliss of FINALLY being done with high school. I will return in August and head up to Kenai where I will be going to KPC. I am going in undecided on a major at the moment but hope that my first year away from home and seeing my options will help me figure out what I want to do.
Gazette: Growing up requires a lot of help – who do you want to thank? Who made a big impression on you and has influenced you in a positive way? Who deserves a “Virtual Rose”?
Xandria: I want to thank my family: My Mom and my Dad for raising me right and my three older brothers Keith, Jeff, and Griffin for being the best older brothers a girl could ask for. I want to thank Jen for being a great volleyball coach and for being like the older sister I never had. I want to thank all my grandparents for passing down their wisdom and sharing their experiences. I would also like to thank all my teachers that I’ve had over the years for teaching me and putting up with me all these years. My best friend Lily has always been there and has always made me smile. I would like to thank my god parents Peni and Toby for being there and sharing their lives with me. Thank you to Shad and Tiffany Haller for being amazing coaches and for giving me the best senior year in basketball. Thank you to all my friends in high school! I will miss every single one of you next year!
I would also like to thank the community and everyone in town. You may not know it but in some way whether it be big or small you have all helped me become the person I am today. Thank you so much for everything you have done.
Gazette: What would you do with your life if you KNEW you could not fail?
Xandria: Uh If I knew I couldn’t fail? Hmm, I think I would become a billionaire. I know money can’t buy you happiness, but what the heck it sure buys you a lot!
Gazette: Final thoughts:
Xandria: In the end I am so thankful that I grew up in this town and got to be a part of such a beautiful place. The memories I have made along the way will last a life time and I will always cherish them. I may be leaving and going to college but Seldovia will always be my home. So thank you all again for everything. And finally after all these years of waiting (since kindergarten) I am finally graduating! YAY!
Seldovia Time
