Cambridge Bay (Mar 08/04) - Jane Proctor, a teacher at Kiilinik High School, used to coach Tracy Okhina in figure skating.

Proctor remembers a diligent, hard working young girl who never gave up, even though balancing on the thin edge of a blade is not as easy it looks.

Tracy Okhina, 13, attended a conference in Yellowknife last month called Power Up. The goal of the conference was to get young female Northerners thinking about their futures. - photo courtesy of Jane Proctor

"She has energy, talent. She is intelligent and she asks intelligent questions," said Proctor.

When it was time to select students for a conference in Yellowknife dealing with career options for Northerners last month, Proctor didn't hesitate in recommending Okhina.

"I knew she was somebody I could send away on a trip. She would represent us well."

Okhina enjoyed the trip to Yellowknife, and feels she learned a lot.

Her soft voice became more animated recalling the other youth participants she met from Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk.

But don't mention "outstanding" or "outgoing student" to Okhina. She will just quietly say she doesn't know why people compliment her that way.

When asked why she was picked to represent her school at the conference, she said: "I do my homework."

Besides her school work, including math and English, which she considers her best subjects right now, Okhina also works part-time in her community's day care centre.

She loves children, but her other passion is sports, especially soccer and basketball.

Okhina is a big sports fan these days. when asked who her overall hero is, a Northerner she thinks is outstanding, she says Jordon Tootoo stands out for her because he is "cute."

Okhina heard about the youth and elders camp to Wellington Bay on Feb. 9, but didn't go.

Okhina isn't sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but that's OK, said her Proctor.

"We have high hopes for her," she said. "She has the potential to have any career she wants."