IQALUIT - This year is special for Nunavut Arctic College student Christina Ekiglak from Sanikiluaq. She is not only sending her son off to school but she is going back too.

"I want to further my education and my knowledge in translation," said Ekiglak, who started her first year of classes in the Inuktitut and translation program at the college during the second week of September.

After graduating high school and working as a municipal liaison officer, she made the decision to go back to school.

While excited, Ekiglak said she is also nervous about the new adventure on which she has embarked.

Her ultimate dream job is to work as a translator in Winnipeg with patients sent there for medial treatment.

As a child, she said she spoke nothing but Inuktitut. The language was taught to her by her parents and grandparents.

"There was never any question which language you were supposed to speak," said Ekiglak.

Fluent in spoken Inuktitut, she said she plans to work on her reading skills.

In addition to doing this for herself and expanding her scope of opportunities, she said she is doing this for her son.

"I want to better myself while understanding my school and my culture," she said.

After having lived in several communities, Ekiglak has spent most of her time in Sanikiluaq. This is her first time living in Iqaluit. While it has been an adjustment she said she and her son are settling into their new home and community just fine.

The size of the communities are definitely different. In Sanikiluaq Ekiglak said everyone knows everyone else as it is a small town but that it is where her family was.

"I just learned this a short time ago; wherever I lay my head is where my home is," she said.

Ekiglak is the first and only one of her father's side of her family who is pursuing education at the college level. She said only three of her family members on that side have graduated high school.

Once she settles in she would like to get involved in activities in Iqaluit but it all depends on her and her son's schedules. Also pending is if she gets a part-time job or not. Bottom line is that school and homework come first.

Ekiglak said her family and friends are great sources of support and keep pushing her to succeed.

"It was difficult leaving them behind but you have to push yourself and be motivated."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.