Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 11/01) - With a phone cradled between her chin and shoulder, Anne Marlene Kilabuk scribbles a message while monitoring a crossfire of front office conversation.
She is the calm within the storm at Inuksuk high school.
After almost two years as school secretary, Kilabuk is adept at answering in excess of 100 calls per day. When not fielding requests, there are the never-ending faxes, filing, e-mail, meetings, happy teens, troubled teens and photo copying challenged teachers -- all part of being the school's friendly front office gate keeper.
Kilabuk is the first person people see at the day's beginning. She's the last person they seen before heading home.
Rarely does she drink a cup of hot coffee from start to finish.
"Some days the phones won't stop ringing," she said, flashing a playful smile. "People should be patient when they call. I could be doing four things at once."
As students approach the office, Kilabuk greets each teen by name.
Kilabuk loves her job. She loves her two daughters, ages seven and nine, even more.
"If it's been a long day I like to be with the girls. Have a cup of coffee, just relax," she said.
The former Pangnirtung resident came to Iqaluit for high school in 1982.
If she had to do it again, history could easily repeat.
"When I was in Pangnirtung, my school grades were good. Then I came here and they weren't so great. But it was really fun," she said.
Lunch is often enjoyed at home. The pizza pocket-like lunch specials at the cafeteria hold little appeal for her grown-up tastes.
"It's mostly kids' food," she said.
Her management studies diploma from Arctic College in 1992 routinely comes in handy.
"You have to be organized, have a sense of humour and be patient," she said.
With summer around the corner, Kilabuk is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends.
