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ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
A Fort Liard teenager has big goals and is using education to help her reach them.

Blair Kotchea has been working in the Fort Liard Community Library this summer. This fall she will begin her studies towards a bachelor of science degree at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C. - photo courtesy of Roslyn Gardner Firth

Blair Kotchea, 17, would like to become a doctor and work in a Northern community. This fall, Kotchea is taking the next step towards making that goal a reality.

Kotchea has been accepted to Vancouver Island University where she is enrolled in a four-year bachelor of science degree program. After she completes the degree, Kotchea plans to go to medical school.

Acceptance to university is the culmination of Kotchea's focus on education.

Two years ago she moved to Nanaimo, B.C., to attend school. This summer she graduated from John Barsby High School.

"I went there for better schooling and new opportunities," she said.

Kotchea was looking to take more science classes and her parents supported her decision to move south, she said.

"They were nervous at first and then they were happy I got to finish school somewhere else," she said.

Moving away from home came with some challenges. Although Kotchea was able to come home for holidays, she was homesick at times. She also had to adapt to attending a school with approximately 700 other students from Grades 8 to 12, a lot more when compared to Echo Dene School's approximately 130 students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

"I had to adjust to it because they are really fast paced," she said.

Kotchea decided to become a doctor after taking a biology course in Grade 12. Prior to that, she was leaning towards the environmental sciences.

Her course work, which included physics, math and chemistry, came with a lot of homework on a daily basis. Kotchea said she sometimes stayed up until 3 a.m. to complete it.

"It was unrealistic," she said.

Kotchea credits her mother, Alma Jumbo, for inspiring her pursuit of education.

"She always encouraged us to go to school and eventually to college," she said.

Kotchea isn't the only one in her family interested in the field of medicine. Her older sister Bianca plans to graduate from the University of Regina's nursing program this year.

She doesn't consider herself a role model for other youth in Fort Liard, but recognizes they might see what she is doing, she said. Her advice for them is do to their homework and go to school. She said students need to motivate themselves and go to classes if they are to reach their goals.

Kotchea said she was happy to be accepted by Vancouver Island University. Although she doesn't know them personally, she knows that other people from the NWT are also taking classes there.

She said she feels confident about making the transition to university.

"It should be interesting," she said.

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