Iqaliut (Apr 17/06) - Walk into the Frobisher Inn on any weekday afternoon, and you'll see up to 20 youth, from teenagers to early 20-year-olds sitting around drinking coffee.

On a school day, these kids should be in class, but many have dropped out of school. Lucassie Stoney is one of those kids.

He is either 20 or 21 years old. "I've been stressing about that lately. I lost count at 15," said Stoney with a laugh.

He can easily count to 21, it is tougher math that has him scratching his head.

"I got to Grade 10, then I got distracted. I got in trouble with the law, I spent a bit of my teenage life in the young offenders facility," he said.

Stoney doesn't have a coffee, though. He is drinking a green apple-flavoured slushie.

"That's my secret. When it is cold outside, I drink something cold to make it feel warmer. It works for me," said Stoney.

After spending his time in the young offenders facility, Stoney has a mixed opinion of the program.

"It does help a little, not a lot. They try to help you when you are inside. It gets totally different when you get out," said Stoney.

He thinks the program would improve with "more elders coming in to talk about stuff."

After leaving the young offenders facility, Stoney was arrested for a crime as an adult.

That rules out his career choice.

"I would have liked to be a soldier in the military. It has been my dream since I was a little boy, but due to my record, I can't go in there," said Stoney.

He is thoughtful about it, but he said he isn't too concerned about the future.

What he is concerned with is making sure his aunt Hannah Stoney gets a "shout-out."

This young man is a huge hip-hop music fan - "any type of hip-hop you can dance to" - and knows from watching his idols that when facing a microphone, you have to thank the people who made a difference.

For now, Stoney will continue to "hang out with my friends and stay out of trouble."