I am from Alaska, and because I go to school in Louisiana, 3000 miles away, people call me by my state's name. This is not because they do not care to know my actual name, but instead because it is a label, it is unique, and not many people going to school in Louisiana are from such a northern area. At first, people would just ask me if they could call me Alaska, but after a while of people knowing me as Alaska, I just started to introduce myself as such. This was not because I did not like my name, or I thought the nickname made me more unique, but instead because I have so much pride for my state, and to some degree, I feel as though the name represents me well. I was not born in Alaska, but I was raised there, and the community that I grew up in made me the person I am today. So I decided to explain to the people who know of the "chick from Alaska" what it means to me to be called such.

It means that I am imperfect. I have my high and low days like everyone else. I make mistakes possibly way more than the average person, and yet I do not look at my flaws as flaws, just things that make me more unique.

I am curvy, but strong; just like a mountain. I am blunt, but I am kind. I am like a mountain.

I am a go-with-the-flow kind of gal. If something needs to be done, I can be like a wave on the earth and be repetitive and continuous until a change is made, but if everything is alright, I am laid back like the cool blue water.

I am unpredictable and sporadic. Just like the Northern Lights, you do not know exactly when I will express myself or what my reaction may be. I can be vibrant and full of color and emotion of I can be quiet and faint.

I am not like many other people. I never wish to be. I have my wild side and just like Alaska I can be very unpredictable, but that is who I am. I would not change that for anything. So go ahead, call me "Alaska". This is what it means to me.