“For any college student, my advice is to really get to know your teachers and the people who are there to support you, and keep them close. The stronger your support system, the greater your chance of succeeding. Be creative with your process, keep an open mind, and show up ready to learn,” says Tykan Daly, a senior graduating this fall with a Bachelor of Counseling Psychology. His advice is rooted in his work as an academic advisor at CyberLynx Homeschool and Correspondence School in Anchorage.

Tykan has worked at CyberLynx for three years, supporting 14- to 20-year-olds who need an alternative path to graduation. He actually landed the job after comparing the journey to graduation to Frodo Baggins carrying the One Ring to Mount Doom, a metaphor that stuck. Since then, he’s helped more than 110 students graduate. What he values most about CyberLynx is its ability to consider the whole student, their experiences, challenges, and the factors shaping their education.

“One thing that stands out to me is how purpose drives agency, and agency drives motivation,” he says. “A lot of these students thought they’d never graduate. Seeing them come here by choice, wanting to finish, is amazing. I’ve learned from them as much as I’ve helped them learn themselves.”

Before advising, Tykan spent 12 years in healthcare, but working with students shifted his career path. He realized how much he enjoys helping people grow and discover their strengths.

He chose Alaska Pacific University because its program offered the tools he needed to better support at-risk youth. “APU blended so much good information for counseling individuals. I wanted better tools to help my students achieve their goals. I went in wanting to become a better counselor for them, and the curriculum gave me the skill set I needed.” He especially appreciated professors who taught him effective modalities for different situations and how directly the coursework transferred to his job.

During his time at APU, Tykan built strong friendships and became part of the community. The small class sizes allowed him to connect deeply with professors and classmates. “There’s a lot I can say about what I like about APU,” he says. “I learned so much both as a student and as an individual.”

One of his favorite areas of learning was trauma-informed counseling that also integrated Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. He also developed a clearer sense of how to conduct psychology research in ways that honor participants’ voices and intentions. After learning in statistics that participants are often excluded from post-study steps, he made it a priority in his own research to ensure participants were heard and included in shaping the final outcome.

For his Senior Project, Tykan explored the lived experiences of youth experiencing homelessness in Anchorage using a Narrative Inquiry design combined with Photovoice. Participants ages 18–25 used disposable cameras to capture images reflecting their stories, followed by semi-structured interviews.

Five major themes emerged:

Systemic barriers and institutional neglect
Faith-based rejection and identity-based homelessness
Transitional mobility and displacement
Gendered vulnerability and safety
Resilience, recovery, and reclaiming control

The goal of his project was to empower the participants with their lived experience as well as inform the community as a whole of what these youth are experiencing. After graduation, Tykan plans to continue working for a while before returning to school. Eventually, he aims to pursue a master’s in counseling psychology and ultimately become a therapist.

APU is proud of Tykan’s dedica^on, compassion, and commitment to helping young people thrive. We can’t wait to see the impact he con^nues to make in the years ahead.