by Mistral Dodson | Jun 13, 2025 | Blog, Leadership, Social Emotional Learning, TPS Travel Study Program
My name is Paul Evdokimov, and I’m very close to being in ninth grade, but before I go forward, I want to look at what brought me to the place I’m in today, to remind myself of what made me who I am – the memories, people, and lessons that mean the most to me. Eight years ago, I joined this school. I was no taller than the bookshelves that held my favorite stories of colorful monsters and magic treehouses. I didn’t understand English very well. Eight years ago, I was sitting on those benches, staring up at the eighth graders who were graduating. I was in awe of who they were; they were smart, nice, tall, and the coolest “adults” I had ever met. Each year, I grew to be more like them, more like them in my own way. Now, eight years later, I have become a leader like the ones that I would always look up to. An older partner who teaches lessons to younger kids, a leader who remains positive and encouraging. After years of preparing, I’m ready for high school, equipped with knowledge and a mindset to achieve. It’s been eight years, and every part of me has grown; each unique experience has changed me.
Ever since my first year at Phoenix, I’ve improved each aspect of my learning. I’ve been allowed to explore and understand my own learning style, whether I’m solving quadratic equations in math or designing and conducting a science experiment. Being able to choose how I learn and the level at which I do so has gotten me to understand the value behind discipline and self-directed learning. I know this skill will be essential later in life, especially when I need to stay motivated in order to reach my full potential. The freedom to choose work and take responsibility for my learning has prepared me for high school and whatever challenges it brings. 
Leadership comes in whatever form you choose. I am the type of leader who guides and teaches, encouraging others. At times, I’m not as outgoing as I’d like to be, and I don’t always feel as though I do enough as a leader. Nevertheless, through my patience, positivity, and motivation I have gained the respect of those around me.
At Phoenix, the expectations are high and being an eighth grader the responsibilities only grow. I worried about this a lot, but as the year went by, I found ways to overcome my worries and earn the respect of a leader. Before every lunch, the eighth graders are tasked to dismiss tables, requiring us to get the attention of every student. At the start of the year, I had no idea how to do this, especially when all the kids were speaking.
The Common sat in front of me. Twenty-six students that I had to take the lead of. My heart raced, each beat stronger and louder than the last. An echo through my ear for every breath I took. How will I take control? I’m not even a teacher. What can I do? I had to find a way. After all, Audrey shouldn’t be expected to do it alone. My confidence was fading. If I wanted to take action, I’d have to do it now. One, two, three 
claps. I’d done it. Everyone looked up at me, or at least enough had. Enough for me to know that tomorrow I could do better, that in following days I would show who I truly am in my own way.
Over the first few days and weeks, I got better; by now, I’m an expert. The feeling of accomplishment when I first did it was unbeatable. I realized that being a leader wasn’t just about one breakthrough, on the contrary, it was about the small victories along the way.
Each day, I practiced, creating opportunities to improve my skills and open my mind to new ways of learning and leading, showing me that I’m truly capable of being a strong leader. Leadership has shown to be a much greater challenge than I could have ever imagined in second grade, a time when leadership – to me – felt like the most important skill, and the best way to fit in with others, and I’m proud of who I’ve become.
Even as a kindergartener, I was interested in helping others and appreciated the EarlyAct Club. I tried involving myself as much as I could, looking for opportunities to contribute to our community. I hoped to become one of the officers who led everything and made all the decisions. Now, as Vice President, my mindset hasn’t changed, and I continue to maintain my belief in helping others. I don’t see my leadership as a position of power, but as a responsibility to uphold and support those around me. I care deeply about all the issues we face, locally and globally. Whether I help by doing small acts of kindness or big projects, I strive to make a change.
Another one of the most defining aspects of my time at Phoenix has been Travel Study Trips. When I came back to Phoenix last year, I barely knew anyone. I felt as though I’d been cast into the deep end of the coldest swimming pool. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, it seemed easier to talk with teachers than my peers.
One of the hardest moments on the trip to Glen Canyon was during our car ride. Crammed in the middle seat, uncomfortable, sweaty, and tired, I forgot how to talk. I hadn’t tried. I knew I was only making it harder on myself, and I didn’t want to be the “quiet, awkward kid” who sat and spoke without looking at anyone. I took a chance and made a joke. Someone laughed. A small thing to most, but something inside of me happened. Something had been set alight.
The spark followed me on my next trip to Catalina Island, it warmed me, melting the nervousness. I spoke up, resisting the temptation to keep quiet. I wasn’t just “there” anymore, I was part of it.
From gazing at the splinters of sky at the depths of Antelope Canyon, to petting sharks on Catalina Island. I was lucky to have the experiences given to me. This especially applied to snorkeling on our trip this year. I’ve always been too afraid to try. Yet, I’ve learned that you can always learn from uncomfortable challenges, and I am grateful for having these opportunities.
Thank you to Betsye, Barbara, Leslie, Mike, Dave, and Mistral, for guiding me through this journey. To my mom and my dad, who gave me this incredible opportunity that I will forever cherish. My trip with The Phoenix School isn’t over. It never will be. In moments when I feel lost or need to take the lead, I will remember what Phoenix has taught me.
As I begin to find my path in life, I’m ready for whatever comes at me. Phoenix has prepared me for high school, to conquer whatever challenges or obstacles are in my way. It has taught me the power of listening and the courage to speak up for what is right, bringing out the confidence inside of me, and shaping me into the person I am today. I’ve learned the importance of leadership, friendship, kindness, and empathy. I’m ready to fulfill my goals, to lead, and to accomplish. I’ll push, even when the trail is steep and unmarked, and leave the shadows as one would leave dust on a road. I’ll never forget how Phoenix has helped me. I’ll take my skills wherever I go. I’ll be ready to be my true self, unafraid to speak up, and unafraid to lead. Being the best that I can be, whilst finding a road that will lead me to success.
Dear Paul…
…you have come a long way from that Kindergartner we first met. You are our attentive listener and quiet leader, cooperating with others, treating teachers and peers with courtesy and respect, always. You are a good friend and carry a like-ability that’s rare. You excel in the way you solve problems, both in your math journal and as an older partner.
You have learned to stand tall, literally, and are speaking for yourself, earning to persevere through challenge and discomfort to experience the world around you.
Leave behind your comfort zone and the temptation to stand back. Stretching beyond boundaries has served you well and shaped you into the friend and leader you are today. Know your influence is felt in the poise and maturity you display. Take with you the ability to influence others with the poise and maturity we see each day. Let the world see what you have to offer.
by Mistral Dodson | Apr 16, 2025 | TPS Travel Study Program
We turn out early today to prepare breakfast and meet the ferry that will take us to Catalina Island. It is a cold and blustery crossing under thick grey clouds, but to our delight, the sun welcomes us to Catalina. We trek up the hill from the harbor to find our quarters and get ready for our first snorkel.
Our CIMI scientist, Roxy assures us we will love it. She does not warn us about the difficulty of squeezing into our full body wet suits, but we help each other and are soon ready to launch. First we feel only the freezing waters, mind-numbing cold, but as our bodies warm cold sea water trapped by our wet suits we become comfortable. Searching endlessly for fish we feel liberated, lost in life undersea, leaving terrestrial above behind. Sattva loves watching her hands moving effortlessly past her goggles and tasting the salt on her lips. We are relaxed, buoyed by our wet suits as we bob up and down with the waves. Finally, after emerging onto the sandy beach, we collect on the dive deck to rinse, rinse, rinse our wet suits, stow our masks, snorkels, hoods, and flippers before fully transforming into land creatures again.
As dusk falls, we begin a climb to leave the lights of the camp far behind. Carrying only water bottles and flashlights we follow Roxy along a ravine, and trudge up the mountain for a spectacular view of the night sky. However, tonight the weather gods are being tricky. Cloud cover allows only a few stars to make themselves known at first, but soon mother nature concedes the sky to us. Roxy helps us identify the winter sky, Orion, Pleiadies, and Taurus, then tells us a story from her grandmother, an Inupiat native, about how Raven brought light to the world. That inspires us each to search the sky and choose a grouping of stars that we feel has a personal meaning. After we hike down, we put our tales to paper and share them; eight original bedtime stories that might, in time, become stories for our loved ones.
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 20, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Our last day dawns with Phoenix travelers urging Mike and Dave to take us to Utah, which is only a stone’s throw away. We can see Utah from our picture window so it seems only fair to plant our feet in another state while we are here. Our destination is Big Water Visitor Center where we see dinosaur fossils and footprints, how dinosaurs evolved, and marvel that the arid Utah that we experience used to be a tropical environment housing sharks, dinosaurs, and small mammals at one time long, long ago. Luckily we have their footprints and fossilized remains to tell the story.
We are on our way to Phoenix Airport to begin the last leg of our journey home. On the drive from Page to Phoenix we travel through sunshine, into rain, then hail, then snow, and back to sunshine. Our lunch stop is cut short when rain brings the cold, so we climb back into our van and head to Phoenix where it is much warmer.
On our way to Page on our first day, we drove past hillsides covered with Saguaro cacti which made us want to get a closer look. A stop at Sonoran Preserve allows us to walk among the cacti, meeting the great saguaros up close, and seeing other varieties. Arlo identifies a fishhook cacti that the Navajo used for fishing, connecting Arlo to his pre-trip research. Noisy birds perch on tall cacti, yelling at us from above. Surely they are welcoming us to their territory instead of sending us on our way.
After a final dinner, and checking our bags, we gather together to write a goodbye to Glen Canyon and the Navajo Nation.
Gavin: My time in this land has been a series of highs, then one middle. The sites, arduous yet satisfying hikes, and impossibly deep canyons made my experience. The feat of engineering the Glen Canyon Dam which is essential in the lives of thousands in surrounding states, providing water and electricity, must have taken some of our country’s great minds to accomplish. Native peoples who lived here centuries ago are ingrained in the land. It’s impressive how they hold onto traditional practices, while not limiting themselves. The arid desert and this school taught me how to: interact more fluently with strangers, how to navigate an airport, and other skills useful in the outside world. Farewell Arizona, with your glorious lands and millions of years of history.
Arlo: There is just so much to learn about any given place. The Everglades, St. John, and now Glen Canyon were all packed full of history, culture, and of course, wildlife. Going into the trip blind, without any knowledge of this area, I was pleasantly surprised with how wrong I was. The history of Lees Ferry and Navajo sites, the geology of Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon, and the flora and fauna quite literally everywhere astounded me, to say the least. To sum everything up, no place is truly boring. You only have to dig a little deeper (or experience it) to realize it. Now, after this valuable lesson, I can proudly and confidently say that I have had the perfect end to my Phoenix travel adventures.
Paul: Goodbye Glen Canyon and Navajo Nation, the place I dreamt, the land from heaven, the magnificent place of beauty and rocks. I have to leave now. You helped me be with nature, and connected me to the land. My brain, my body, my mind has changed. I love you for helping me, for making me less anxious, helping me to be closer and understanding. That fiery gust is real, so is my dream.
Alfie: I will miss these days of outgoing activities. Time to say goodbye to many tribes that made us comfortable like the Navajo who showed us their ways. I will miss how the sun was just right and had a glossy reflection on the water. I will have to leave millions of years of history behind like the Antelope Canyon tour of winding very narrow turns that is never forgetful. Titanic Horseshoe Bend sits in shocking ways. Now I leave all of this behind.
Audrey: Although this adventure felt short, it will still be an experience that will never fully leave my mind. I expand my head with thoughts of the trip like hearing about the tragic past of the Navajo Nation and learning about a variety of new plants and animals. Many sights we have seen changed my attitude, but the sight of Horseshoe Bend will forever give me a positive lens on nature. Farewell Arizona, your culture, wildlife, and history are the foundation of my wonders.
Levi: Dear Arizona, I find the burden of 9 kids difficult. Thank you for allowing us to grace your soil with our journals’ touch. This land of beauty is unparalleled compared to any other state. From magnificent Horseshoe Bend to jaw-dropping Lees Ferry Antelope Canyon, though was my best experience by far. The geological were impeccable. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you, goodbye, and good night.
Mira: I remember standing where I sit now, awaiting the start of our trip. I had just gotten off the plane and everyone was groggy from the flight and jittery with excitement. The very next night, I arrived at our Airbnb and was in awe over the gorgeous house. Over the week, we learned about native culture, the history of the canyon, and how to protect our parks. We saw extraordinary things including Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon Dam. Our week was full of adventure and surprises, and to put how I felt into words is almost impossible. All I’m really trying to say right now is, “Goodbye Arizona.”
Fiona: My mind is an interesting place. There are lush forests of intricate thoughts, seas of emotion, looming mountains of stress, and now, amber canyons barricading hungry shadows from reaching me, viridian waters weaving through each challenge and layers of processing. I stand upon the new part of me, a gentle breeze brushing against my cheek and soft sands against my soul. Winds are welcoming me to new changes and kissing me goodbye from the terrain, waters, and closeness. I left a piece of me to forever stay in Glen Canyon and Glen Canyon etched itself into my brain with lasting memories and gentle reminders.
Sattva: Goodbye canyon walls that towered over us all. That cool breeze in my hair, and looking at the amazing canyons that go on forever will stay in my mind. I will miss the comfortable warmth of the Navajo people, their friendly culture, and their pure smiles on all Navajo faces. I will miss walking on the canyon ground and the little pieces of rocks that get stuck in my shoes. Time flew by as every second seemed like a day and every day felt like a second. How wired time is. I will miss the comforting warmth of everything.
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 13, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Navajo National Monument is our destination today. Once off the main highway, we wind up the mesa over a sandy and gravel road, twisting and turning through juniper and piñon pine, snow showers, past wandering cattle, and over red mesa sand, sand, and more sand. We are off to meet with Caleo John, who introduces himself in the traditional Navajo way with his name and the name of each of his four clans. Caleo leads us along a trail through junipers, sagebrush, piñon pine, Indian rice grass, Mormon tea, yucca, quaking aspen, Douglas fir, and prickly pear, answering our questions and giving us insight into the environment around us. Across the canyon, we spy ancient cliff dwellings nestled in a natural arch in the canyon wall. It is mind-boggling to imagine the ancients living so high above the canyon floor.
We are intrigued with the Navajo hogan and sweat house constructed in the traditional way. Caleo shares his personal experience of going through the coming of age challenge of being in the sweat house with 10 other young men for a day, with intervals of running, and rolling in the sand before squeezing back into the sweat house. Our next challenge is to pick a museum specimen of a coiled pot and try making one just like it with the clay that Caleo provides. Speaking for all of us, Audrey remarks, “We have been so lucky to have had the best guides!”
Glen Canyon Dam is our last stop today. We peer over the precipice into the canyon far below, marveling at the massive structure. One side holds the Colorado River back, forming Lake Powell. On the other side, the river winds through a deep canyon as it continues downstream. The making of Glen Canyon Dam is explained in film and photos allowing us to understand the marvel that it truly is, and how important it is to water distribution in the southwest and Mexico.
After some journaling, sharing, brownies baked by Mike and Dave, and finally a dip in the hot tub, we retire.
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 12, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Our special surprise this morning is a trek through “Hasdez’ twazi’ (Lower Antelope Canyon) or ‘spiral rock arches’ as the Navajo call it. Our Navajo guide, Ian Blackhorse Johnson captivates us with stories of geology, local Navajo life, and history, including a local disaster, all helping us to understand that the canyon is spiritual and sacred to the Navajo culture and way of life. For many of us Hasdez’ twazi’ is the highlight of our trip so far.
Read below for our student’s interpretations!
Arlo: Saturated, colorful walls enclose me on all sides. Ancient overhangs frame the sky, etching familiar silhouettes into the vastness above. Sunrays poke through the mazes of complex rock formations. Light bounces across vibrant canyon walls, covering each crevasse in a blanket of color. Antelope Canyon, an astounding and ancient formation, proving that beauty really does take patience.
Mira: We start to descend into the canyon and my breath is taken away. Huge, amber rocks tower above me. Beautiful crimson formations encase the path on which I walk. As we steadily descend, each majestic canyon wall carries new beauties. Up and down we go, exploring and capturing new images in our minds to carry forever with us. Magnificent, wondrous, vast and intimidating. This is Antelope Canyon.
Levi: Submerged in shadow I trek through Antelope Canyon gazing at crevasses that dot the bottom. Above, outcroppings shine copper and amber with light from the sun’s rays. I watch my head as the canyon narrows and stare up in awe as it opens up. When I climb out I am reminded that we are a small part in how the Earth turns.
Fiona: It was an earth-made painting, the world’s fingertips placing natural paints along a blank canvas, molding amber spirals into canyon walls and raining down orange sand to carpet rigid floors. Grooves and openings create recognizable shapes, animals, and designs, forming a roof over us that almost looks like an open sky with a falling sun. I run my hands along the canyon’s walls, allowing my fingers to feel each curve and indent. My palms touch ancient rocky layers, leaving a piece of myself behind for the canyon’s aging memory.
Paul: Magnificent, majestic, and breathtaking, Antelope Canyon lies disguised, filled with tunnels and mazes. Crimson walls stand below ground. What I thought was a normal canyon turned out to be a wondrous place. An hour of time, a lifetime of memories, an experience that will never be forgotten and one that I will cherish. Walls tower over me, sunlight falls above me, cold air washes over me as I walk to the sky, a place filled with grace, made by the gods. No way to describe it. The only words in my mind are amazement and awe as I leave behind one of the most amazing places.
Audrey: Fine sand coats the canyon floor. Copper walls create a colossal formation. I spin myself slowly trying to take it all in. Glowing sun beams through the narrow crevices. Warm oranges make up the foundation with crimson paths coating the rock. I follow the dusty earth, my face gleaming like the sun. Canyon walls so deep and submerged.
Sattva: Widespread tunnel goes further and further as we continue on the path. Walls look like they expand infinitely, towering over all of us. Trying to reach the far end of stone, pure curvature on each wall going into pits and depths sluggishly along.
Alfie: Narrow bends take me along what seems to be heaven. I lose track of time. My body races with adrenaline. Sun paints the many curves of the canyon walls, luminating the changes throughout history. I walk with respect for the people and their canyon. I imagine death-defying rainstorms wiping out part of the canyon from what it is now. I see the Navajo’s cheerful past throughout the layers of walls. I have never seen anything like it.
Gavin: The sprawling canyon with bizarre rock formation leads me on through tight corridors. Gold and orange hues reflect off the walls, a painting of gray and tan. Narrow passageways lead to circular openings. Sand blankets the ground cascading in from the top. Arches and outcrops formed millions of years ago. Footprints are petrified in stone. Smooth grooves and rough cracks, small creatures running through. Sun seeps through ledges onto the sand.
After lunch, we connect via FaceTime with our Phoenix K-2s who are on their own simulated trip to Glen Canyon back at school. Questions and answers flow freely, as we enjoy hearing about each others’ experiences.
Our kayak adventure begins at the Colorado River where we launch our kayaks for a paddle upstream and into Antelope Canyon where there is water enough to paddle along, unlike the narrow section we explored earlier. Our backs get really sore as we paddle along the 6-mile journey. Icy cold water freezes us as it is splashed into our kayaks by our partners. Numb feet and sore arms are well worth the endless crimson and copper walls of the water-ridden canyon.
Feeling tired, but proud of ourselves, we are happy to eat dinner, work on our journals, share our Antelope Canyon writing, and take a soothing dip in the hot tub on our deck. We all sleep tight tonight.
(Thanks to Fiona, Paul, and Arlo for kayaking imagery.)
What will tomorrow bring?
by Mistral Dodson | Mar 7, 2024 | Blog, Leadership, TPS Travel Study Program
Imagine our delight when daylight reveals Glen Canyon in all its glory, a scene only nature can paint, filling our picture window. Retracing our inky black path from last night, we head out in bright sunshine to meet Edmonia, Allison, and Alex, National Park Rangers, at Lees Ferry.
We begin to understand the pioneers who came west. Edmonia shares stories of early settlers like the Lee family who failed at mining for coal and gold, and the Johnson family who planted orchards of peaches, almonds, apricots, plums, apples, pears, fig, nectarines, and quince, which we learn taste like sour apples x10! Looking up at the steep canyon wall, it’s almost impossible to believe settlers with mule-driven wagons managed to ascend to the top on such a narrow and treacherous trail.
In keeping with our philosophy to give back to our communities, The Phoenix School EarlyAct Club springs into action. As we watch Colorado River rafters run the rapids, we pick up beach trash to keep the park pristine. Alongside rapids to the placid bay, we wander, plucking every unnatural item from the ground. We are proud to be official National Park volunteers today.
With insider information from Edmonia, we head to Navajo Bridge where we might see California Condors who sometimes sit under the bridge waiting for morning air to warm so they can catch thermals allowing them to soar high in their search for carrion. We are incredibly lucky today! Three condors perch contentedly under the bridge, in plain sight. We take advantage of tables nearby to work on journals when the condors take flight and circle near enough that it feels as if we can reach out and touch their gigantic wings. What a treat to see such immense and impressive raptors so close.
Horseshoe Bend leaves us in awe. It is almost indescribable. We do our best to communicate what we felt at our first glimpse.
Arlo: Following craggy cliffs down from their sandy surfaces only barely puts into perspective the daunting and deceiving size of the curved gorge.
Alfie: Colorado River tranquility surrounds colossal layers of history
Sattva: Trees look like bushes, people look like ants
Levi: Imposing with high jagged rocks
Fiona: I thought the pictures were impressive, but now looking at the true sight, I realized I missed many details; the layers, the people, and literally the elephant in the room, the size of the canyon walls.
Gavin: Its scale is confusing and awe-inspiring.
Audrey: Copper rocks create a foundation so large it feels like the pictures we have seen before became reality. Droplets of water push each other along, moving as one, creating the distinct shape of Horseshoe bend
Mira: Massive fiery orange rocks encase a slow spiraling river as I watch from above….I am in awe.
Paul: A place so vast that humans are ants
James: Not even on the same planet anymore
Mike: beyond the pictures
Dave: doesn’t even look real
What will tomorrow bring?
