I'm 16 years old, and I'm going to be a junior at Next Generation Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ganado is my hometown, and in the Navajo wa you are always very connected to your homeland, especially to your maternal side.
And my mother's from Ganado.
And my obligation back at home is to basically learn my culture and take part in family events, and also take part in ceremonies which keep me on the right path.
MIRIELLE BEGAY: I've always stressed to her since she was a baby that where she's from is in Dinetah, Navajo land, specifically in Ganado, where her placenta has been buried, where she is to return.
It is her connection to land, it's her connection to creator and all that creator brings no matter where she's at in the world.
RUTH TRACY: With her and my granddaughters, you know, and my grandsons, I encourage them to go on to school, get their high school, get their college degree.
But my daughters, I want them back here to establish homes.
BEGAY: She's raised in two worlds-- in the city and on the reservation.
And she does have responsibilities and obligations to both.
BRITTANY: The day I ran away, I felt alone, I felt discouraged, and I felt isolated.
One of the things that contributed to me dropping out of school that day was I didn't feel that I had a support system.
Another reason was I was being bullied.
What brought me back was I didn't want to disappoint people.
And part of me felt like I could finish high school, that I could do everything that I needed to do in life to further myself, to better myself.
Another thing was I realized that dropping out wasn't as simple as it seemed.
I made me think of, what was I going to do when I dropped out?
BEGAY: The changes I've made for Brittany is really not to move.
I think that we've moved quite a number of times, and that's really impacted her life.
BRITTANY: And I wasn't taking school seriously.
So now I'm making up for it in summer school.
And my mind's in the right place, and I'm focused, and I'm ready to start my next chapter.
Hello, and welcome to another installment of Generation Justice.
Generation Justice has guided me towards broadcast journalism or international journalism.
I want to get my bachelor's degree in mass media communications, because there are so many opportunities out there.
I can use media to voice my opinions and to just get issues heard in media, to use different tools to bring people to awareness.
It also taught me to find resources in my communities, and that there are resources for young people.
Don't drop out.
There are counselors and teachers and just people you can confide in about things.
Getting your education, you can help people, or students who felt like you in that moment.
Because nobody wants to feel like they're alone, or that they're alienated by themselves.