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RANKIN INLET
A group of students from Maani Ulujuk Ilinniark (MUI) in Rankin Inlet had the chance to broaden their horizons during the school's annual trip for potential Grade 12 graduates this past month.

Cassandra Gordon and John Bruce have their photo taken with illusionist Greg Frewin, back, in Niagara Falls during MUI's annual grad trip in April of 2012. - photo courtesy of Leonie Berry

Students on the trip were John Bruce, Israel Aliyak, Cassandra Gordon, Jennica Pissuk, Alexandra Rudd, Katrina Pameolik, Meagan Angidlik, Annette Boucher and Denise Graham.

Grade 8 teacher Jennifer Zeinstra chaperoned the trip for the first time, along with Leonie Berry.

Zeinstra said it was nice to see the youths excited over seeing new places and experiencing things they hadn't done before.

She said she also enjoyed seeing them become more interested in different career choices while visiting the post-secondary institutions of Red River College in Winnipeg, and Algonquin College and Carleton University in Ottawa.

"For extra-curriculars, we went to Niagara Falls for a night and saw a magic show which the kids really, really liked," said Zeinstra.

"Some of us went to the zoo in Toronto, while others visited the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"We also saw the CN Tower and that was a big hit with everyone."

Zeinstra said the post-secondary stops on the trip were a big help to the students.

She said the experience helped a number of them focus more clearly on their career choices.

"Some students, for example, went in knowing they wanted to do mechanic work, but were really vague as to exactly what.

"But, when they saw the machine shops, going to college suddenly became more of an option for them when they realized the opportunities awaiting them there."

Zeinstra said she was pleased with the level of attentiveness the students displayed while visiting the post-secondary institutions.

She said as the students went through the schools and saw everything they had to offer, they grew more-and-more excited about the possibilities.

"This is a program well-worth carrying on at MUI.

"We made sure, for example, the students interested in nursing or culinary arts got to visit those sections of the schools.

"When some of them saw the resources in those particular areas, it seemed to excite them even more about wanting to do that as a career.

"It was a valuable learning experience for every student there in one way or another."

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