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ARVIAT - Leaving family and friends at home to go to school is always difficult, but Janine Kalluak got some good news recently that will make the transition a little easier.

Kalluak, 24, was one of seven recipients of a Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and Government of Nunavut grant, given to students who are furthering their academic or cultural skills at a post-secondary institution.

Kalluak, who has lived in Arviat her entire life, said she is grateful for the help.

"It feels really good," said Kalluak. "When I heard I was one of the recipients, I was smiling all day long."

The Kakiniit Grant Program will award each student $1,000.

"It's going to be a big help for sure," she said, adding that the cost of books, supplies and finding a new place to live will all be expensive.

To apply for the funding, students were asked to write an essay about the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

"The essay that I wrote was about ... how it affected my family positively, and it talked about some good leaders that we have had, and that we have today, in Nunavut," she said.

Kalluak will be leaving Arviat on July 25 to study at Durham College in Oshawa, Ont. She will be studying in the court support services field.

She was planning on leaving to school later in the summer, but a family member down south is having health problems, so she will be heading down early to be with her.

Kalluak said she will miss home, as she has in the past, when leaving to go to school.

"There are times when I do miss home but I stay strong because it will all be worth it in the end," she said.

This time around, the move will also be less painful because she will have two of her biggest supporters flying to Ottawa with her: her one-year old daughter, and her fiancé.

"This time it will be easier because I have my little family of my own."

With all these things falling in line, Kalluak is almost enthusiastic about the future.

"It's going to work out perfect."