Robert Frost eloquently sums up my life:“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.” I am the first student teacher from SUNY New Paltz to come and complete my student teaching here in Alaska. Specifically, I arrived at the Historic Athabaskan village of Nenana, which resides on the confluence of the Tanana and Nenana Rivers in the Interior of Alaska. Nenana City School District is unique in that it is home to a boarding facility, where students from all across Alaska come to pursue their educational opportunities. My mentor and friend, Stephen Calkin, has made all the difference in showing me what a teacher ought to be.I adamantly believe in utilizing best practices, and having a literacy initiative focus in my curriculum. My pedagogical belief is defined by an individual growth outlook for each student. This will be a believe that grounds my teaching, and will persist for the rest of my career.