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RADILIH KOE/FORT GOOD HOPE
Dakota Erutse says he believes he is fortunate. The 17-year-old Pearson College student said moving from his hometown of Fort Good Hope to Victoria, B.C., has made him thankful for the prospect of his new education.

Dakota Erutse of Fort Good Hope, left, poses with Pearson College roommates Amit Chand, from Fiji, and Hoang Pham, from Vietnam. - photo courtesy of Amit Chand

"It's something I'm very grateful for," he said.

Erutse is taking the International Baccalaureate program at Pearson College, which is also a high school diploma.

The school, which is 29 kilometres west of Victoria, on the southern shore of Vancouver Island, is a United World College. Focus is placed on "educational experience based on shared learning, collaboration and understanding," according to the UWC website.

Erutse's program includes six subjects that are taught for two years, including mathematics, philosophy, languages and sciences. He must also complete three "core" programs, consisting of theory of knowledge, an extended essay of 4,000 words (which will demonstrate what to expect at university) and the creativity, action, service (CAS) program. Topics for study are decided based on these three themes and range from astronomy to kayaking, as well as community service opportunities such as volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Erutse said so far, he has chosen piano lessons and human rights as his CAS activities.

Erutse earned an $80,000 scholarship to attend the school, which covers his tuition and room and board for two years.

Two hundred students from around the world attend the college each year, which Erutse said has been a personal highlight. His two roommates are from Fiji and Vietnam.

"Everything has been going great," he said. "I've met tons of people from around the world."

He has also been hard at work.

Classes begin at 8 a.m. and finish at 2 p.m., but afternoons are spent working on CAS activities and other projects. When they do have an afternoon off, the challenging workload means students usually spend the time studying.

"My schedule here is very, very busy," he said. "It's very busy compared to back home."

Erutse is also a member of the school's Indigenous Support Group, which aims to support and connect aboriginal students, as well as to partner them with aboriginal groups in the nearby communities.

Although he just started, Erutse said he is gearing his education toward medicine and teaching.

He said biochemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology interest him most.

"I've always had a passion for the sciences," he said. "Following that, I want to get into education, come back to the North, and teach."

"Another goal of mine is to get into the field of medicine, maybe something surgical like cardiology."

Erutse said he has received a lot of support at the school, which he said he considers one of the most important factors in successfully completing the program.

"It's quite different from living on your own after high school," he said. "Here, I have the support of my peers and teachers."

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