Our Neighbor Sean Soukkala
our neighbor
December 8, 2005
our neighbor
By Wendy Johnson
Pine Journal Publisher and Reporter
This profile of Youth Advisory Council member Sean Soukkala originally appeared in the The Pine Journal of Cloquet, Minn., on December 8, 2005.
It
has been said that great leaders aren't born — they're made. And by all
indications, Carlton (Minn.) High School sophomore Sean Soukkala is
well on his way.
has been said that great leaders aren't born — they're made. And by all
indications, Carlton (Minn.) High School sophomore Sean Soukkala is
well on his way.
At
age 15, Soukkala has been chosen to serve on the National Youth
Leadership Council's Youth Advisory Council — an honor reserved for a
very few outstanding students from around the country. And Soukkala
already has a couple of years of leadership training and a whole lot of
maturity under his belt.
age 15, Soukkala has been chosen to serve on the National Youth
Leadership Council's Youth Advisory Council — an honor reserved for a
very few outstanding students from around the country. And Soukkala
already has a couple of years of leadership training and a whole lot of
maturity under his belt.
It was at a very early age that Soukkala learned what it was like to get up in front of a group of people.
"My
grandma used to take me to see my cousins in Mille Lacs [Minn.] a lot,"
he said, "and we'd go to tent meetings and church services, where I
used to go up front and sing with my sister."
grandma used to take me to see my cousins in Mille Lacs [Minn.] a lot,"
he said, "and we'd go to tent meetings and church services, where I
used to go up front and sing with my sister."
In
fact, he still sings at his home congregation at the Sawyer Chapel,
where he also plays bass guitar. Coming from a family well steeped in
musical talent (his mother, Crystal Moose, received numerous accolades
for her musical performances in high school), Soukkala's talents also
extended to saxophone and later trombone.
fact, he still sings at his home congregation at the Sawyer Chapel,
where he also plays bass guitar. Coming from a family well steeped in
musical talent (his mother, Crystal Moose, received numerous accolades
for her musical performances in high school), Soukkala's talents also
extended to saxophone and later trombone.
While
honing his musical skills, Soukkala was also expanding his academic
skills. In grade school, he said he pretty much liked all subjects,
earning straight A's as well as the Presidential Excellence
Award.
honing his musical skills, Soukkala was also expanding his academic
skills. In grade school, he said he pretty much liked all subjects,
earning straight A's as well as the Presidential Excellence
Award.
"Things usually come pretty easily for me," he admitted.
While
he was a student at South Terrace Elementary School, he said teachers
he especially learned a lot from included Mr. Cawcutt, Mrs. Soukkala,
and Mrs. Berg.
he was a student at South Terrace Elementary School, he said teachers
he especially learned a lot from included Mr. Cawcutt, Mrs. Soukkala,
and Mrs. Berg.
"They
encouraged me, and I thought their classes were cool!" he stated. "They
had a little different style of teaching, and they got me excited about
learning."
encouraged me, and I thought their classes were cool!" he stated. "They
had a little different style of teaching, and they got me excited about
learning."
Now
that he's a sophomore in high school, he's also branching out beyond
the required classes to pursue electives such as music, internet
history, and the Ojibwe language.
that he's a sophomore in high school, he's also branching out beyond
the required classes to pursue electives such as music, internet
history, and the Ojibwe language.
"My
grandmother used to speak Ojibwe a lot and teach me occasional
phrases," he related, "and I came to understand it fairly well. After
my grandpa died, she stopped speaking it as often. But my mom had taken
it at college, and every once in a while she'd speak it, too."
grandmother used to speak Ojibwe a lot and teach me occasional
phrases," he related, "and I came to understand it fairly well. After
my grandpa died, she stopped speaking it as often. But my mom had taken
it at college, and every once in a while she'd speak it, too."
Soukkala
is also studying geometry, English, physical education, and American
history. He's in the school band as well. Outside of classes, he is
involved in football, was on the weight lifting team, runs, lifts
weights, and is considering joining the track team next spring. He also
became involved with the school archery club.
is also studying geometry, English, physical education, and American
history. He's in the school band as well. Outside of classes, he is
involved in football, was on the weight lifting team, runs, lifts
weights, and is considering joining the track team next spring. He also
became involved with the school archery club.
It
was through the influence of Indian Education Coordinator Sandy
Shabiash, however, that Soukkala's eyes were opened to the world beyond
Carlton High School. With her encouragement, he became involved in NYLC
and the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration's
Pathways to Possibilities, an outreach program run through federal
grants and designed to help American Indian students become more aware
of what they want to do after they've finished high school, teaching
organizational and leadership skills as well.
was through the influence of Indian Education Coordinator Sandy
Shabiash, however, that Soukkala's eyes were opened to the world beyond
Carlton High School. With her encouragement, he became involved in NYLC
and the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration's
Pathways to Possibilities, an outreach program run through federal
grants and designed to help American Indian students become more aware
of what they want to do after they've finished high school, teaching
organizational and leadership skills as well.
Through
that program, Soukkala became involved with NYLC, which hosts The
National Youth Leadership Training every year at the Audubon Center in
Sandstone, Minn.
that program, Soukkala became involved with NYLC, which hosts The
National Youth Leadership Training every year at the Audubon Center in
Sandstone, Minn.
Soukkala, then 14, attended the training in the summer of 2004. He admits it was a real eye opener.
"One
of the main things they taught us was to be more open with other
people," he said. "When we first got there, we were split up into
different groups so we weren't with the people we came with. ... After
that, we had a series of different sessions, bunked in with the kids
from our group, and every night we'd have a culture night to learn
about the various cultures represented there. Different kids would come
forward and make presentations."
of the main things they taught us was to be more open with other
people," he said. "When we first got there, we were split up into
different groups so we weren't with the people we came with. ... After
that, we had a series of different sessions, bunked in with the kids
from our group, and every night we'd have a culture night to learn
about the various cultures represented there. Different kids would come
forward and make presentations."
Soukkala was one of the youngest to attend the weeklong session for high-school aged youths from all over the country.
"Most
people aren't aware that it's right here in our own backyard," Soukkala
said of the training opportunity. "It's not all that far away."
people aren't aware that it's right here in our own backyard," Soukkala
said of the training opportunity. "It's not all that far away."
Some 100 people attended the session, and Soukkala said it really motivated him in many different ways.
"I
suppose I had some leadership skills going into it, but they were
really brought out during the camp," he reflected. "Afterward, I was
able to go up to almost anyone I didn't know and start talking to them,
and it got me more motivated to get involved in more activities and do
well in school. I also began trying to get my friends involved in it
too. They noticed there was something different about me, and a couple
of them have started learning what it's all about and what they want to
do with their lives."
suppose I had some leadership skills going into it, but they were
really brought out during the camp," he reflected. "Afterward, I was
able to go up to almost anyone I didn't know and start talking to them,
and it got me more motivated to get involved in more activities and do
well in school. I also began trying to get my friends involved in it
too. They noticed there was something different about me, and a couple
of them have started learning what it's all about and what they want to
do with their lives."
Among
those Soukkala inspired was his sister, who went with him to the
training last summer. Both are now part of the advisory board of
Outreach to Empower, Pathways' sister program.
those Soukkala inspired was his sister, who went with him to the
training last summer. Both are now part of the advisory board of
Outreach to Empower, Pathways' sister program.
"After
going to the camp for the first year as a participant," Soukkala said,
"the Pathways to Possibilities program asked to interview me and
featured me on the front of their magazine. Later, they asked me if I
would be willing to participate in The National Service-Learning
Conference in California."
going to the camp for the first year as a participant," Soukkala said,
"the Pathways to Possibilities program asked to interview me and
featured me on the front of their magazine. Later, they asked me if I
would be willing to participate in The National Service-Learning
Conference in California."
Soukkala
was selected as one of six conference emcees, and he helped introduce
people and even told some jokes. He had to speak in front of some 3,000
people, with all of the states and 42 other countries represented in
the audience.
was selected as one of six conference emcees, and he helped introduce
people and even told some jokes. He had to speak in front of some 3,000
people, with all of the states and 42 other countries represented in
the audience.
"I
was nervous at first," he admitted, "but my mom was seated right down
in front of me so that helped. Also, the group I was with stood up and
started cheering when they introduced me!"
was nervous at first," he admitted, "but my mom was seated right down
in front of me so that helped. Also, the group I was with stood up and
started cheering when they introduced me!"
Soukkala
went back to The National Youth Leadership Training this past summer as
part of the service staff, helping to get the kids more involved.
went back to The National Youth Leadership Training this past summer as
part of the service staff, helping to get the kids more involved.
"It
was interesting to watch how the kids changed over the week, going from
not trusting anybody and not wanting to talk to anybody or deal with
anything," he related. "By the end of the week they were talking to
everybody and trying to get as much experience as they could before it
was done."
was interesting to watch how the kids changed over the week, going from
not trusting anybody and not wanting to talk to anybody or deal with
anything," he related. "By the end of the week they were talking to
everybody and trying to get as much experience as they could before it
was done."
After
the training camp was over, the NYLC asked Soukkala to fill out an
application to be a part of their Youth Advisory Council.
the training camp was over, the NYLC asked Soukkala to fill out an
application to be a part of their Youth Advisory Council.
"I
did, and they accepted me," he said. "Now there are 15 of us from
around the nation who are on the advisory council for service-learning.
The first time we got together, we met everybody and talked about
different things we wanted to do for service-learning projects. We're
trying to help out with hurricane relief, ringing bells for the
Salvation Army, and one of our long-term goals is to adopt a school in
Uganda. We're also going to try to put out our own magazine."
did, and they accepted me," he said. "Now there are 15 of us from
around the nation who are on the advisory council for service-learning.
The first time we got together, we met everybody and talked about
different things we wanted to do for service-learning projects. We're
trying to help out with hurricane relief, ringing bells for the
Salvation Army, and one of our long-term goals is to adopt a school in
Uganda. We're also going to try to put out our own magazine."
In looking back over his experiences of the past few years, Soukkala said he has grown both mentally and physically.
"I
am more devoted to certain things now, and I'm better able to talk to
others," he reflected. "I'm more open to other kids, especially when I
know there's something going on with them, and trying to help them out."
am more devoted to certain things now, and I'm better able to talk to
others," he reflected. "I'm more open to other kids, especially when I
know there's something going on with them, and trying to help them out."
Soukkala said he wants to go to Bible college after high school and then go on to a four-year college.
"There's
so many things I want to do, I'm still trying to decide," he said.
"I've thought about aircraft mechanics, becoming a missionary, working
with kids in some way, or becoming an American Indian history teacher
so I can help people understand things about our culture that they
don't otherwise. I'd also like to see the world, but I like it right
here, too."
so many things I want to do, I'm still trying to decide," he said.
"I've thought about aircraft mechanics, becoming a missionary, working
with kids in some way, or becoming an American Indian history teacher
so I can help people understand things about our culture that they
don't otherwise. I'd also like to see the world, but I like it right
here, too."
Along his life's journey, Soukkala said his faith plays a major role.
"Knowing
that when God's with me I can pretty much do anything," he said. "I
realize there's a certain point that I know I'm going to die, but I
don't let myself worry too much about it because as my pastor says,
'You can't get hung if you're supposed to drown.'" Displaying a
philosophical bent way beyond his young years, Soukkala looks at the
things he's learned with wisdom and maturity.
that when God's with me I can pretty much do anything," he said. "I
realize there's a certain point that I know I'm going to die, but I
don't let myself worry too much about it because as my pastor says,
'You can't get hung if you're supposed to drown.'" Displaying a
philosophical bent way beyond his young years, Soukkala looks at the
things he's learned with wisdom and maturity.
"Sometimes
a leader isn't the one who tells people what to do," he said, "it's the
one who lifts them up so they can do it on their own. A leader doesn't
create followers; he creates other leaders."
a leader isn't the one who tells people what to do," he said, "it's the
one who lifts them up so they can do it on their own. A leader doesn't
create followers; he creates other leaders."
Copyright © 2005 The Pine Journal. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
