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Changing Roles – Red Cloud Graduates Return to Campus as Interns

August 10, 2017


 

This summer, a group of six talented Red Cloud graduates returned to campus to serve as interns in the Community Relations office. As a team, they learned to give campus tours to visitors, to assist in the work of Red Cloud’s advancement staff, and to connect with Red Cloud supporters from every corner of the country and beyond. Recently they sat down to reflect on what it’s like to leave Red Cloud behind, what they’ve learned through their internship, and the advice they’d share with the next generation of Red Cloud students. 



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Jacob Cousin ’16 will soon begin his second year at Brown University.

“I very much enjoyed my first year of college—being exposed to all the new opportunities and people, and just seeing all that the world has to offer, that I can truly go for at this point. And coming back this summer was a good break for me to think about all those opportunities and decide what I really want to do. Just to prepare myself for the years to come. 

I would say to current students—don’t be in such a rush to graduate. You’ll never be in high school again, so just appreciate that. Graduating can be scary, and it can get tough afterward. But don’t let that fear defeat you. For me personally, on this journey to adulthood, it’s definitely been scary, and half the time I don’t know what I’m doing. But you learn from your mistakes and that’s how you grow.”

 

Bella New Holy ’16 is returning to the University of Kansas to begin her second year of college. Focusing her studies on psychology, she plans to become a counselor and eventually return to the reservation. 

“I actually transferred mid-year after my first semester of college. Transferring was a big decision, because originally, I had this whole plan set out. I started at the University of Hawaii, which was so amazing and I’m so grateful that I had that experience. But it was a process and journey that I went through—a lot of realization of being out there all by myself, in a place I had never been. 

[To current students] I just want to say that it’s your life; you’re not in a race or competition with anyone but yourself. It took me being in college and making that decision to transfer—to pick the school I wanted to go to and the path I wanted to choose—to realize that it’s all about me. It’s not about anyone else—your life is yours and it’s what you want to make of it. It’s not for anyone else to decide. In the fall, I’m returning to the University of Kansas. And I’m really happy with my decision.” 

 

After earning the Gates Millennium Scholarship, Tadd Sharp ’15 spent his first year of college at Black Hills State University before transferring to the University of Minnesota, Morris, where he’ll return this fall. 

“It’s been really cool working here this summer. You get to meet with all the tourists—I didn’t know there were so many people who would come and visit Red Cloud. It really puts a name and a face to our donors. 

My senior year of Red Cloud…I wasn’t expecting to get the Gates. It was the only scholarship I applied for, and I got really lucky with it. Because of that, I only applied to schools I could afford, and so I started at Black Hills State. I prepared to transfer and then got accepted into Marquette in Milwaukee and to the University of Minnesota, Morris, where I’m going now. 

I really like it—there’s a strong Native community there because they have a tuition waiver that applies to many Native students. It’s got a cool community feeling. Right now, I’m studying biology with a minor in chemistry, focusing on pre-med and thinking about medical school in the next few years.”

 

After graduating just a few months ago, Kasey Miller ’17 will begin his studies at Fort Lewis College in Colorado this fall. 

“[Working at Red Cloud] has been a really good experience. Once you’re on the flip side, you notice how many things go through this office. There’s a lot of planning—it’s a complicated job, and you gain a kind of respect. There’s a lot more that goes on than what you initially think. 

I’m planning to attend Fort Lewis College this fall. I want to get my basics done there, and then transfer to a school with a sports medicine program. 

In high school, you’re used to having people there for you—but coming out of high school, you start to be more independent. That’s where I’ve been changing; I’m becoming more independent and reliant on myself.”

 

New graduate Daveon Provost ’17 has dreams of a career in Information Technology. This fall he’ll be beginning his studies at Oglala Lakota College.

“My experience [this summer] has been really eye-opening. Calling donors opened my eyes to how people actually donate and have a part in Red Cloud’s work. I never really noticed that or thought about that before this job. 

For the younger classes, I would say, just cherish all these times you have in high school. Cherish all the sports you get to play, cherish the times in the hallways and the locker rooms talking with your friends, because just four months after you graduate, you’re off on your own. 

It’s like a snap of your finger. Before you know it, you’re already on your senior year, getting ready, filling out scholarships, and applying to colleges. So cherish your time in high school—it goes by really fast.”

 

Casey Bear Robe ’17 will also begin college this fall at Fort Lewis College in Colorado. She plans to attend law school—and to focus on tribal law and immigration rights in her future career. 

“I’ve been at Red Cloud my entire life, from kindergarten through 12th grade—so it feels different being behind the scenes and learning what all the people here do for the school, how it runs and operates. It’s been valuable to get this experience—to meet the people who donate to Red Cloud and help keep its doors open.”


 Photos © Red Cloud Indian School

 

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