ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN
Sydone Okheena is ambitious. The Grade 11 student at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik school says she already knows she wants to be either a teacher or a politician - or both.

Sydone Okheena, Grade 11 student at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik, travelled to Port Alberni, B.C. as a Northern Youth Abroad participant this summer. - photo courtesy of Northern Youth Abroad

"I either want to be a politician or I want to be a teacher, I can't quite decide," she said. "Being a politician has been a dream for me for a few years now."

Okheena said her uncle Jackie Jacobson, speaker of the legislative assembly and MLA for Nunakput, inspired her love of politics.

But before she takes those first steps toward becoming a politician, Okheena said she wants to participate in the international phase of Northern Youth Abroad.

Okheena recently returned to Ulukhaktok after spending her summer in Port Alberni, B.C. during the Canadian phase of NYA.

There, she worked at Stepping Stones Daycare, doing everything from helping to supervise field trips to planning the day's activities.

"We did some face painting and easter egg making," she said.

"The best part about the job was being with the kids and enjoying every single day with them. I loved it."

When she wasn't busy working, Okheena spent her time off shopping, playing mini-golf and going camping with her host family.

She also took her first train ride on a restored steam train.

But, Okheena said one of the most memorable trips was a birthday present from her host family. On the Friday before her birthday on Aug. 3, Okheena was treated to a weekend in Vancouver that included a day at the Playland Amusement Park.

"I saw my host family in the living room and they had my birthday card. I opened it up and it was a trip to Vancouver for my birthday to go to Playland, which was so fun," she said.

"I got to spend the whole entire weekend in Vancouver and one day at Playland."

Though she said she enjoyed her NYA experience, it wasn't without its challenges.

Okheena said conquering homesickness was a hard-won battle.

"It was hard at first, but I got better throughout the program," she said.

"And I made it."

Now that she's returned home, Okheena said she's been busy finishing the last of her NYA assignments and sharing her experience with fellow students. She said she knows four or five who have been inspired to sign up for the program.

She said her biggest piece of advice for newcomers is to be prepared not only for the program's requirements, but also the idea of being away from home.

"They should know what the program is like and they should know how to deal with homesickness and things like that," she said.

"Things that were kind of a struggle for me."

Though she has to wait to hear whether she's been accepted, Okheena said she's already looking forward to NYA's international phase.

"I'm looking forward to seeing a different country, I'm looking forward to making new friends," she said.

"It could be my last summer of freedom before I graduate. I want to make it count."

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