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Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com 3 Lyle alumnus models resilience for next generation of grads Lyle High School graduate talks about challenges, rewards of his college experience Stenberg ■ By For Deb Lyle School District History. Expectations. Perceptions. They can lift kids up. And, too often, they can sink kids’ hopes. But, every once in a while, a kid comes along and listens to his own heart — and his mom. Joey Nelson was one of those kids. Nelson grew up and at- tended public school in Lyle, on the banks of the Columbia River. Like many small, rural schools, Lyle High School operated on a bare bones budget, managing to provide a few extracurricular athletics along with the core academic subjects. Some of Nelson’s peers went to college. A few high-achieving kids would go to a four-year university every year, sometimes even a highly-ranked one. For most, more often, there was a job at the local mill or a place in the military, or possibly a technical program. Nelson is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, and things were even more complicated for Native students — those expecta- tions, beliefs and history can be a difficult box to step out of. But Nelson’s family had made a few changes to those expectations and beliefs. His mom was tough on him as he was growing up, Nelson said, but she also encouraged him to seek a life better than hers. As she put it, he was a “colored man in a white man’s world,” so he had to work hard, and sometimes harder, to achieve what he wanted. His mom’s words stayed with him. He played sports and got good grades. He stayed out of trouble. He graduated in 2007 from Lyle High School, at the top of his class. He applied to a single college and was accepted on a full-ride scholarship. Here, too, his family had created a history for him to look to: His mom had taken some com- munity colleges classes, and two aunts had earned college degrees a few decades before. Into the unknown Nelson arrived on the Central Washington University campus in the fall of 2007 with no clear outcome in mind, but he was curious and positive. Mostly, he knew that there was a lot more outside of his previous range of experience and he chose not to limit himself. Fast-forward 14 years to the spring of 2021, Joey — now Joseph Nelson, M.D — took time from an intense schedule to talk to a group of juniors and seniors at his old high school. Although many things remain the same at the school, technology and the COVID-19 pandem- ic had produced one big change. Instead of making an overnight trip, Nelson was able to join the group, which was split between home and the classroom, via a remote meeting program from his home in Seattle. Nelson asked questions and prodded students to think about possibilities. He encouraged those with an interest in college to apply, emphasizing the availability of financial aid. He addressed a frequent concern, the inevitable cul- ture shock students feel going from a high school with 80 students to a campus housing more than 10,000 students. For many young people who have lived in a community where they’ve known their peers for most of their lives, making friends in a larger, often urban environment can seem overwhelming. Nelson shared that, when faced with that situation, he did what he knew and loved to do best. He took a basketball to a gymnasium on campus and, before long, found a group to play ball with regularly. “On a campus of that size, there are plenty of groups with varied inter- ests. You’ll find your people,” he assured the students. Now a second-year Family Medicine resident at the University of Washington in Seattle, Nelson shared the journey of self-discovery that brought him to a position as medical doctor at a na- tionally-respected hospital system that treats critically ill and injured patients from throughout the Northwest. Sometimes, you don’t know your own strengths It’s not surprising that Nelson didn’t take the usual path on his way to his chosen career. Nelson wasn’t one of those kids who always knew he wanted to be a doctor. He had no plans to major in a science field at all, for that matter. During his first year in college, he did what a lot of students do. He acclimat- ed. He took prerequisites, the foundational classes he needed for whatever major and career path he pursued. He looked at options. But it wasn’t until he walked through a career fair at the college that he realized he might be interested in a career in science and decided to take a biology class. He found he had an affinity for it. Unlike so many people in medical careers, he didn’t have the advantage of a rigorous high school science program with plenty of fund- ing. As a result, he says he was simultaneously “terrified of science, but excited for the challenge.” With an open and engag- ing personality, he quickly found mentors who helped him build his network. He was named a Udall Scholar for his interest in tribal Thank you Victoria Abbott Carol Adams Adewale Agboola Aaron Albalah Charlene Ames Soleil Ammon Russo Andrew JoElla Anglin Lynne Annett Tim Arbogast Yvonne Arbogast Melissa Arndt Kelly Asbridge Jana Austin-Jacobson Elsa Avila Castañeda Laurie Babb Craig Bachman Mike Ballah Judy Bankman Karla Barajas Tina Baresh Nestor Barragan Brian Barrett Christine Barthmus Megan Bassett Andrea Baumann Michele Beaman Molly Beard Ann Becker Sarah Bellinson Robert Benton Cheryl Berger Kassen Bergstrom Ruth Berkowitz Anne Bernard Elaine Betts Tor Bieker Paul Blackburn Jeff Blackman Carol Blanusa Emilie Blevins Barbara Blizzard Agi Bofferding Peg Bogard Mary Bokovoy John Boonstra Eileen Brady James Brauer Jan Brauer Grant Braun Athelea Brevard Bill Brewer Jose Briones Karen Broderick Heather Brooks Laila S Brown Charles Bugge Ally Bugliari Suz Burd Gabriela Bustos Ryan Butler Dominic Buttaccio Julie Byers Patricia Byrnes Jennifer Calderilla Stacey Campbell Jeff Campbell Janie Cardwell Dave Carter Maribeth Chambers Joshua Channell Megan Channell Selena Chijate Graham Clark Quin Clarkson Natalie Clay Michael Clement Nancy Clement Jacob Cook Kirsten Cook Adam Cook Patricia Cooper Sarah Cordeiro Erin Costello Rachel Crowder Paul Crowley Ryan Cruse Claire Culbertson Mark Dane Martha Daniels Christian Danielsen Ana Davis Laura Davis laird Davis Theo Davis Megan Davis Ben Davis Linda Densmore Greg Densmore Joella Dethman Miranda Dezurick Mike Dicken Jean Dills Vanessa Lalli Dittenhofer Greg Doan Debra Dobbs Margery Dogotch Kevin Donald Jane Duncombe Marianne Durkan Erik/Kathy Eastman Christina Eastman Maria Eby Michelle Edwards Tracie Egeland Trish Elliott Karen Enns Kate Ensor Mary Fassel Ellisa Fellows Guy Fenner Jessalyn Fey Melanie Finstad Rhonda Fischer Alison Fitts Cathy Fitzpatrick Beth Flake Lorene Flaming Silvia Flores Luz Flores Kay Floria Nancy Foley Chung Fong Danielle Forsyth Susan Froehlich Mark Fuller Rebekah Galvez Cristina Garcia Laura Garcia-Rangel Anne Gehrig Helene Geraci Monika Gerde Tally Godkin Kathy Goe Lori Golze Luz Elena Gordian Valdez Maggie Goter Alexandra Goyette Mikey Goyette Josh Green Charlotte Gregson Trevor Gregson Claire Griffin Christy Grimm Grace Grimm Jose Gruart Cristina Gudor Brent Guinn Genevieve Guinn Colleen Haggerty Sean Hallissey Adele Hammond Molly Harman Laurel Harper Jennifer Harris Jenny Harris Clint Harris Alison Harrod Lori Harrod Michael Harrod Sean Harrod Jennifer Hart John Hart Kurt Harter Jeff Heater Kristi Heck Gus Hedberg Leah Hedberg Nigel Heinemann Taylor Heinemann Debbie Hendrickx David Henne DeeDee Hennessy Robin Henson Lisa Henzler Cathy Higgins Jill Hilderbrand Jan Holibaugh Victoria Hopkins, PA Francesca Huey Tami Hukari Fletcher Hukari Jason Hume Eva Hume Jeff Hunter Robert Imhoff David Ingraham Courtney Jackson John Jacobson Julia Johnson Phil Johnson Sirota Johnston Matt Johnston Leslie Jones Nik Jones Madeliene Jones Henry Jones Karen Joplin Jen K Brandon Kammer Lindsay Kammer Tim Keenen Carrie Kennedy Taylor Kennedy Lindsay Kenyon Leslie Kerr Elizabeth Kinney Amy Klee Margaret Koenig Nathan Koenig Shannon Kossar Gloria Kowalski Joshua Kramer Angela Krause Dr. Joey Nelson sets out cards during an event. The Lyle grad en- couraged graduating seniors to stay open to the possibilities. Contributed photo public policy and healthcare. After spending a summer in Boston participating in a research program through Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, his interest in med- icine grew stronger. Upon graduation from college, he worked in an emergency department in Yakima as a medical scribe for two years. He then applied to and was accepted at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he earned his medical doctorate before starting residency. Along the way, there were inevitable obstacles: Financial hurdles, cultural differences, and stereotypes, including oft-made racially charged statements: “You only got here because you’re an Indian,” or “Must be nice to have free college tuition.” The latter, Nelson explained, is based on a widely be- lieved falsehood that Native Americans and Alaska Natives go to college for free. In fact, very few NA/AI peo- ple make it to college, largely due to systemic barriers, lack of mentorship, and institu- tional racism, he said. These days, Nelson’s typical day is not for the faint of heart: Waking up early and having a quick cup of coffee before spending his next 12-14 hours seeing a diverse patient panel in his clinic at Harborview, managing those who are critically ill in the hospital, or learning from doctors who are experts in their field. All this when he’s not covering overnight shifts, delivering babies, or provid- ing care to Alaska Natives in Juneau and the island village of Kake. He is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclu- sion at UW and is a mentor for others as they embark on their own journeys into medicine. His successes have awarded him with recogni- tion through scholarship, publication, and leadership positions. He continues to play basketball and is engaged to Dr. Claire Simon, another resident in his program. Their plans include devoting the early years of their careers to working in disadvantaged ru- ral communities, after they’ve completed their training. And, always, staying open to the possibilities, because there’s no telling where they will lead. NOW OPEN FOR DINING Homemade specialties by Chef Joe Kosarek Enjoy this one-of-a-kind artisan experience in The Dalles. Open Wed-Sun. 4-9 pm 541-296-5666 www.baldwinsaloon.com We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped staff clinics and the call center. Because of you, Hood River County has surpassed the 70% vaccination rate. 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