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TUKTOYAKTUK - Loni Noksana is a grad with a plan.

The lifelong Tuktoyaktuk resident is about to graduate from high school and is making plans for her future.

She was decorating the gym for her high school graduation last week.

Loni Noksana was preparing the gym at Mangilaluk school in Tuktoyaktuk for her graduation. Noksana has plans to attend Grant McEwan College, eventually working towards becoming a teacher. - Brodie Thomas/NNSL photo

The normally bland basketball courts had been transformed into a sea of blue and white in preparation for the big celebration.

Noksana's graduation will be a turning point for her family.

She is not only the youngest in her immediate family, she is also the youngest amongst her many cousins.

But Noksana said she is already an aunt to four great kids. Being around kids has inspired her goals for the future - Noksana is hoping to become a teacher.

"I used to work with recreation doing youth nights, craft nights, and things like that," she said.

Now she would like to work with kids full time.

She'll begin reaching for her goal by attending Grant McEwan College in Edmonton.

She will be taking the caregiver program, which will enable her to be a teacher's assistant.

"I love being around kids," said Noksana.

She said she spends a lot of her spare time with her family, just hanging out and talking.

She has spent many nights babysitting her nieces and nephews.

Noksana is also heavily involved in volunteer work, frequently helping out at community events.

She said the most important and most fun of these for her is the Beluga Jamboree, Tuktoyaktuk's big spring festival.

As a grad this year, Noksana realizes she is now a role model for many of the youth in her community.

She said completing high school is one of the most important things youth can do today, and she encourages everyone to work towards that goal.

"It's important because nowadays you can't get a good job without building your education." With a bit of luck and a lot more hard work, Noksana will be back in Tuk helping to influence that next generation.