Journal

Last fall, I took a solo vacation to Alaska and visited Denali National Park. I was so intrigued that everyone I met who worked in the area had a different accent or was from somewhere else around the world. I remember feeling so inspired by the mountains and the scenery,...

It was a load off my shoulders to realize I didn’t have to trudge through the traditional office work routine. I looked through a lot of Conservation Corps work opportunities on CoolWorks, which led me back to – you guessed it – wildland fire!

As an Alaskan and avid outdoor enthusiast, I’ve long been familiar with CoolWorks. Tourism is the bread and butter of Alaskan business, and there’s no quicker ticket to the Last Frontier than a seasonal summer job when the cruise ships start running north and the Alaska Railroad system kicks back...

We live in such a beautiful and diverse country and so many people only end up seeing just a fraction of what is out there. On my 40th birthday last year I was still single, had no kids and had been doing the corporate grind for the majority of my...

Thank you for being a source of inspiration, excitement, and life-changing possibility. I truly believe this experience not only saved my life, but gave me life.

Seasonal work has truly changed my life, and I am forever grateful. I like to think back on when I felt trapped and then look at how far I have come. I am finally able to honestly say that I love what I do.

Up until that point, I thought college was the only option that would grant me a life with more options than what was offered in my hometown. With their stories and lifestyles sitting right in front of me, it felt like hundreds of doors had opened up all around me....

The jokes of leaving our lives behind have been replaced with jokes about going back to what we had before discovering seasonal work. On top of getting paid to vacation, seasonal work has helped us get control of our finances, as most places offer free/inexpensive housing with utilities included, and...

How can I not do it? How can I not explore, live, work, and play in this diverse country of ours? How can I not meet some of the best people I have ever met in my life? How can I not escape the comfort bubble and challenge myself? How...

Over the course of four months in Alaska, I had more in-depth conversations than I’d ever had. I got to know people, I made genuine connections, and I developed an unrelenting love affair with life. I left Alaska with memories, friends, and money, which I used to begin a lifelong...

I often stumble when people ask me where I’ve lived because I’ve lived too many places to count on my fingers – and I’ve forgotten a few while reciting my adventures. But I can say, I’ve never been bored.

Being far from the noises of crowds and having some pretty epic scenery are just a tiny slice of the pie. I feel my ideas and aspirations unfolding in a different way and out here there’s no hiding from that. Solitude encourages me to reflect.