Tayler Morgan

Oglala Lakota

Pine Ridge, South Dakota

24 years old

Phlebotomist, IHS Hospital, Pine Ridge, South Dakota

Participating in the PATHSTAR Alcatraz swim will allow me to explore the strengths of my physical and mental health. I think it would be a great experience and opportunity for my teammates and myself to challenge ourselves and take the knowledge we gain back home.

During the week, I would like to learn more about the history of Alcatraz and proper ways to promote and live out healthy, active lifestyles.

The learning I’d like to bring back home to my own life is being able to commit to a physically and mentally healthy life. By proving to myself that our minds and body are capable of doing things I viewed as too big of a challenge, I can be more open and less fearful of change.

The learning I’d like to bring back to share with my family and friends is that anything is possible. Whenever you set a goal and commit and work hard, you can do anything. Challenging myself physically and mentally, and completing Alcatraz swim and overcoming the challenges it gives me, will show people that they can too.

Describe your team’s commitment to this experience during the year following Alcatraz Swim Week…
After Alcatraz Swim Week, my team will come together to promote not only PATHSTAR, but positive, healthy, active lifestyles. We are very strong willed and are great at promoting healthy lifestyles by living them the best way we know. By gaining more knowledge on healthier ways to live, I know we will do our best in sharing that within our community.

Three goals I will commit to in participating in the PATHSTAR program are:
Challenging myself more
Committing to being more active and making a full effort to eat healthier
I also will commit to sharing everything I will learn from this experience with my family and community members so they can make the changes they need to better their lives