THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Aurora College has launched a new program to give high school students a taste of post-secondary life.

Patti Wedawin, a student from Gameti, finds out what it's like to be a carpenter during the NWT Youth Symposium at Aurora College in Fort Smith. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Thirty-eight young people from nine communities across the NWT were in Fort Smith from June 13 to 17 for the inaugural NWT Youth Symposium at Thebacha Campus.

The symposium focused on helping the Grade 10 to 11 students prepare for post-secondary education, and learn about opportunities at all three campuses of Aurora College.

Students rotated through workshops with different Aurora College instructors and graduates, and experienced programs such as carpentry, environment and natural resources, teacher education, business and health care, along with trying a simulator of driving mining equipment.

They also got to experience residence life, tour the campus and speak to student services staff.

Effie Gruben, a Grade 10 student from Tuktoyaktuk, enjoyed the experience.

"It was really interesting," said the 16-year-old. "I really liked carpentry. I didn't know that I would like carpentry because we don't really have it in our school."

Gruben welcomed the idea of the symposium.

"I think this is cool and I think that they should have more of this happening because students would get more information and they would be thinking about the future earlier," she said. "They would find their interests and what they would like to do. If you don't try something new, then you won't know what it's about."

Mahalia Mackeinzo, an 18-year-old Grade 11 student from Deline, also thinks the symposium is a good idea.

"It's really educating," she said. "You get a better perspective of what's here."

Cody Drygeese, a 17-year-old Grade 11 student from Yellowknife, actually said the experience at the symposium has started him thinking of studying carpentry.

Other students came from Aklavik, Gameti, Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Hay River and Jean Marie River.

Jeff O'Keefe, director of Thebacha Campus, called the symposium an absolute success, noting students had an opportunity that a lot of them wouldn't have in their home communities.

"Our goal has been to expose kids from around the Northwest Territories to what programs we have to offer, to what post-secondary education is all about, to residence life, to campus life, and all those kinds of things," he explained.

O'Keefe said the symposium is about promoting all of the college's campuses and their programs, noting staff members were brought in from the other campuses.

The plan is to hold the symposium again next year.

The initiative cost the college about $100,000, of which 90 per cent went to travel.

The symposium also included sessions on student financial assistance and the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, both programs of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

O'Keefe noted the idea for the symposium evolved from a trades awareness program for South Slave students held at Thebacha Campus over the past six years.

Jane Arychuk, director of the Yellowknife/North Slave campus of Aurora College, sees the symposium as a unique idea particularly relevant in the NWT, where students often don't get to visit college and universities before enrolling.

"Many high school students do not know what to expect when they go to college or university," Arychuk said. "Few have the opportunity to learn what residence living and student life in college or university is all about. Often NWT youth are selecting their college or university based on what they have heard from others."

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