At Covenant House Alaska, our volunteers play a crucial role in supporting youth experiencing homelessness. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Hickerson, a dedicated mentor whose journey to becoming a pilot is as inspiring as her commitment to making a difference in a young life.

Alyssa is a pilot for Alaska Airlines, but her path to the skies wasn’t an easy one. From a young age, Alyssa dreamed of flying, but with her family unable to afford flight school, she had to find her own way. Determined, Alyssa worked tirelessly through her late teens and early 20s, using a small grant and a tiny student loan to help fund her training. “I just worked really hard,” Alyssa shares, reflecting on her journey. Her story is one of perseverance, self-reliance, and unwavering determination—values she now passes on to the youth she mentors.

For the past year and a half, Alyssa has volunteered as a mentor in our Rights of Passage program, where she works one-on-one with a resident to provide support that goes beyond what staff can offer. Her role includes accompanying her mentee to appointments and job interviews, assisting with job searches, and conducting general wellness check-ins. But perhaps most importantly, Alyssa sees her primary job as simply being there to listen.

“Sometimes we might even just drive around in the car for an hour,” Alyssa shares. These car rides have become an unexpected source of comfort and openness for her mentee. “I found it interesting that she feels very safe and open in the car. Creating a safe space of nothingness is really profound.”

Alyssa’s commitment to volunteering stems from being at a stable place in her life and a desire to give back. With a personal history of overcoming challenges, she felt drawn to Covenant House’s mission. “We really struggled when I grew up,” Alyssa recalls. “There was a lot of hard work, a lot of resilience, a lot of radical self-reliance.”

This firsthand experience with adversity has shaped Alyssa’s approach to mentoring. She strives to instill in her mentee the belief that they can overcome their circumstances through perseverance and hard work. “My goal is to impress upon her that you can get through it. It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be handed to you, but it’s possible.”

Alyssa’s role as a mentor has not been without challenges. She admits that one of the biggest hurdles has been managing her expectations when plans fall through or appointments are missed. “I have to just accept that she’s in a different life space than I am,” she says, emphasizing the importance of patience and understanding.

Despite these challenges, Alyssa has witnessed significant growth in her mentee. Her kind eyes shine as she shares that her mentee has held a job for nearly a year—a major accomplishment for someone who previously struggled with employment consistency.

For those considering volunteering with Covenant House, Alyssa offers three key pieces of advice: patience, empathy, and presence. “If you got a bunch of garbage at home, or you had a bad day at work, you can’t bring that stuff in,” she advises. “You need to check it at the door and focus on being present in the moment.”

Balancing her volunteer role with her personal and professional life requires intentionality. Alyssa schedules her mentoring commitments a month in advance, treating them with the same importance as any other appointment. This approach ensures consistency, which she views as crucial in building trust with her mentee.

Outside of her volunteer work, Alyssa leads an active life. She’s a mom, an aerial silk performer, practices salsa dancing with her husband, and has a passion for house plants and exotic pets, including frogs, fish, and a bearded dragon.

Reflecting on her journey from humble beginnings to her current stable life, Alyssa emphasizes the importance of perseverance. “You can’t quit. You have to keep pushing forward day by day,” she says. This mindset, instilled by her hardworking parents, is something she hopes to pass on to the youth she mentors.

For Alyssa, volunteering at Covenant House has been a mutually beneficial experience. “It’s been wonderful. It’s been nourishing,” she shares. “Sometimes I need Covenant House more than they need me.”