Meet Amanda Wygant
by Vicki Heisser |
Outdoor leadership student Amanda Wygant took some time to share a bit about herself and her aspirations as she begins classes at PWSC. Here are some highlights from our interview.
PWSC: Hi, Amanda. To start, tell me where you are from and what some of your hobbies are;
what do you like doing?
Amanda: I was born and raised in Kenny Lake, Alaska. I’ve lived there most of my life but
have travelled and lived in various states along with Italy and Thailand. After I
graduated high school in 2017, I planned to attend college. Last minute I changed
my mind and ended up at Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, Alaska. Living at a ski resort
instilled a passion for snowboarding.
Thailand is where I discovered my love for water sports. I spent three months there
scuba diving and working as an underwater guide. It was a major growing point for
me mentally, physically, and emotionally, as it pushed my comfort zone in many different
ways. The reason I love diving so much is that it feels like an entirely different planet.
The beauty of nature never ceases to amaze me.
Flying is another hobby of mine. I am a third generation pilot. Like scuba diving,
flying brings you to another world to explore. It is meditation for me. I’ve been
working on my private pilot’s license for the past three years. It’s been a great
challenge for me financially and mentally. There is a lot of risk involved and it
has definitely exceeded my comfort zone.
Last summer I worked as a white water kayak photo boater on the Shenandoah and Potomac
rivers. Being a freelance photo boater was a dream job. It combined my love of photography
and film with that of water sports. Before kayaking, I didn’t really do anything on
rivers. It was exciting and challenging to learn another outdoor skill. I’m very much
still a beginner and have a lot to learn about kayaking. I’m excited to have the opportunity
to be a part of the sea kayaking class this fall.
PWSC: You clearly love the outdoors, so the program seems like a good fit. How did you
hear about PWSC and our outdoor leadership program?
Amanda: When I was in high school I took an English class with PWSC, so that made me aware
of the opportunity to attend school near home. I did not know about the leadership
program until December of last year. After three years of being done with high school,
I was ready to return to school. I was curious if there were any outdoor programs
near me that would get me outdoor certifications. I emailed with professor Ben Rush
and ended up volunteering with him and his student Zech Wenzinger at the dog-mushing
event, Copper Basin 300. Volunteering with them gave me an idea of the sort of things
I may end up doing in the program. It ended up motivating me more to be a part of
the outdoor leadership program.
PWSC: What are your motivations and ambitions for a career in the outdoors?
Amanda: I would love it if I could combine my love for flying with outdoor sports. I’d love
to have a business that would focus on backcountry outdoor expeditions, exploring
remote places. I also have hopes of being able to work in various countries with the
outdoor certifications I get. I would love if my experience in the outdoors could
bring me to Central or South America. Working in Antarctica would also be a very cool
experience.
The psychological aspect of outdoor sports also motivates me. I would love to learn
more about outdoor therapy and about helping people by bringing them into nature and
involving them in outdoor activities.
Working for NOLS, the National Park Service, or Bureau of Land Management is also
something I may consider.
PWSC: Great ideas. Is there anybody in your life that has been a great influence over your
passion for the outdoors?
Amanda: I would say nature has been the biggest influence. My parents influenced my love
for nature by raising me in rural Alaska. It is something I will forever be grateful
for.
Going to school at Kenny Lake where my entire high school was 22 students, I got to
have many unique opportunities. I had one teacher, Mr. Voley, that loved the outdoors
and combined our writing class with glacier walks, hiking, camping, rafting, and cross-country
skiing. In high school, I also had the opportunity to be a part of the Outdoor Stewardship
Program, which is a science and outdoor sport program that happens in the summer.
My education definitely had a big influence in creating my passion for the outdoors.
PWSC: What are you looking forward to learning in your outdoor leadership classes? Is there
any particular class that really excites you?
Amanda: I am looking forward to so many things. I really am excited to explore my fear and
develop better risk management skills. Rock climbing excites me because I’ll get to
push my comfort zone a lot because I have a fear of heights. I’ll be happy to find
a way to climb and not be scared. Sea kayaking and rafting I’ll enjoy a lot because
I love the water. It will be great to develop my kayaking skills more.