Jordan Jeffery
Barrow
by Tori Tragis, University Marketing and Publications
Jordan Jeffery clowns around during a rare free moment. UAF photo by John Wagner
When I first came to RAHI I was not sure what to expect. At first everyone was shy and stayed close to people that they already knew. But after a few days of homework and classes with each other, everyone began to open up more. After the first essay exams and papers were due we all became bonded by trauma. I enjoyed the first weekend when we did special activities with our family groups, such as laser tag or bowling. It helped to break the ice between everyone.
The second week was when everyone began to feel the strain of all the homework and papers due. Staying up until 1:30 a.m. to work on a paper and then waking up at 6 or 7 a.m. to finish math homework became a normal occurrence. However, this is a college program, so it prepared me for what the homework is going to be like in college. Everyone was relieved when the weekend came around where we could momentarily relax and do the Midnight Sun Run. I had never been in a race with that many people before and I got a little embarrassed because many of these people were in their 50s and up, yet they still passed me at the end. I had a scare in the home stretch when a mother pushing a baby carriage with two kids started to pass me up. However, I put on a burst of speed and passed a few people in those final hundred feet. I finished it in about 50 minutes.
Midterms probably made me work the hardest for academic work than I ever have. I was relieved when they were over and we got to go to Twin Bears Camp. The Fun Olympics were really fun and we had a dance that lasted until about 4 a.m. I got a pudding pie in the face during one of the events so I had to jump in the lake to get clean. Plus, I tipped a canoe over while racing back and forth across the lake. Good times.
It seemed as if the last weeks of RAHI were a blur of papers and tests. I still managed to find time for some Ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. I also had fun whitewater rafting in the Nenana River. The water was frigid but was refreshing after being cramped into a van for hours.
Finals hit everyone unexpectedly and with considerable power. On the last few days of finals I averaged four hours of sleep a night. However, I reached my goal of reaching a 4.0 grade point average. All in all I had a great time at RAHI and recommend the program to anyone who wants to become better prepared for college while having a great time. RAHI is a lot of work, but the rewards are valuable enough to make it all worthwhile.