CVN welcomes new staff, Nakeshia Diop
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Nakeshia Diop
My name is Nakeshia Diop (pronounced J-OP), and I am the new reporter at the Chilkat Valley News. I've been ordering food and drinks as Sasha (because it is much easier to spell), so after this introduction in the paper I'm excited to finally use my real name to get a chai latte.
Before taking this position, I had been in the Alaska Fellows Program, working for a think tank researching issues on housing and democracy. The end of the fellowship in May concluded my nine months in Anchorage and I just wasn't ready to leave the state.
I never have a great answer when I'm asked, "Why Alaska?" Much to the dismay of my parents (who are from coastal cities in Maine and Senegal), I do not eat seafood. I hesitate to venture out to the great outdoors anytime the temperature drops below 15 degrees. And after two days of camping I start fantasizing about my couch and a hot shower.
But I have come to love Alaska in my own way. The community that I've found here has been wonderful and inspiring. The appreciation for the land here has helped me pay more attention to the natural world around me, and I have learned so much about the state's history and quirks. I love the mountains, glaciers, rivers, and everything else the state has to offer. I'm certainly excited to be in Haines!
I took this job because I have a passion for writing, and enjoy hearing and telling stories. I graduated with a degree in political science last year, but enjoy writing in my free time. Although I am new to journalism, I see it as an opportunity to pursue a passion of mine while connecting with people from all walks of life.
A little more background about me: I moved to China when I was two, and spent a little over a decade in the cities of Wuxi and Suzhou, where my mom worked as a teacher. Then I attended high school in Washington, D.C, a place I still hold dear to my heart. I enjoy traveling, reading, and participating in all arts and crafts activities.
And if you see me struggling to parallel park, that's not me, that's Sasha.
