BEAUFORT DELTA
For the past 12 years, Ocean McLeod has worked for the moment when she could accept her high school diploma onstage in front of her loved ones.

On June 12 it finally came.

"It felt like accomplishment," said the Moose Kerr student in Aklavik.

There were challenges along the way - namely gym in McLeod's case.

"I was more into academics and books, not running around or playing in the phys ed room," she explained.

But there were also some highlights.

Last year, McLeod and a friend planned a traditional ptarmigan hunt for their fellow senior high students.

They received funding from the Gwich'in Tribal Council after submitting a proposal and were able to hire four guides and an elder.

The week-long outing culminated in a feast to honour elders and the students for catching as well as preparing the meat.

The experience taught her "patience, a lot of patience," said McLeod.

For Peter Snowshoe, who graduated June 19 in Fort McPherson, the best part of attending Chief Julius School was getting to know Brandy Vittrekwa.

Snowshoe lost his friend in December. The 17-year-old was murdered in Whitehorse, where she was living with her family.

A 15-year-old boy has since been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the case.

Upon hearing of her death students at her former school created a banner to honour Vittrekwa and wrote messages about her.

It was fun being around her, Snowshoe recalled.

"She always had something to say and would make everyone laugh."

Moving into the future, Snowshoe is considering attending Access Pathways at Yukon College, which offers prerequisite courses necessary for meeting admission requirements at post secondary institutions.

When he's finished he hopes to enter a program related to heavy machinery. His interest in the area was sparked by a recent tour of colleges down south.

"In Victoria we went to a college and they brought us to this one separate class where they have these big vehicles and you find out how to repair them and all that. They said they need more people like that in Canada."

Fellow graduate Arlyn Charlie, on the other hand, wants to take a one-year photography course and then get his teaching degree.

He enjoys taking pictures, he said, because it gives him "the ability to capture something in that moment."

When asked what photograph of his is his favourite he couldn't choose just one.

"I love them all."

He also struggled to pick a high school highlight. When he looks back, he said, he'll remember the whole experience fondly.

In fall, McLeod will be attending Aurora College's business administration program in Fort Smith. She's worried about leaving her hometown but with her two best friends by her side, she said, she thinks she'll get through it.

"It's going to be awesome living with them."

McLeod is still uncertain about the type of career she wants but picked business administration because she heard it could lead to a variety of jobs.

"I thought it would be a good start."

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