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Cooking up the future Recent grad credits community support with moving forward
Danielle Sachs
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 17, 2013
QAUSUITTUQ/RESOLUTE BAY
Qarmartalik School celebrated two graduates at the beginning of June in Resolute Bay.
Aaron Manik and Mason Simeonie are the two 2013 graduates from Qarmatalik School in Resolute Bay.
- photo courtesy of Vince Pickett |
Mason Simeonie and Aaron Manik both graduated during a ceremony while the community looked on.
Simeonie is planning to attend college in Ottawa at the end of the summer, but not before he spends a month working at Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island.
Simeonie was accepted to Algonquin College, in Pembroke, Ont., and is working wherever he can to help with lodging and tuition.
Principal Vince Pickett said the school does what it can to help recent graduates, and in this case it involved finding work for Simeonie.
"The principal and teachers helped him so much," said Leena Simeonie, Mason's mother. "I am so proud and happy for my son."
The recent graduate is taking a one-year culinary skills program, and he hopes he'll be able to travel the world after college.
"I usually cook with ground beef and rice, I just buy whatever's cheapest and make a meal out of it," said Simeonie, adding he's looking forward to the variety of cheap food he'll be able to experiment with in Ontario.
One of his jobs at the school is cleaning the kitchen after breakfast.
"The principal helps me out with jobs that I need, there isn't really any other work right now," said Simeonie.
Although he's going to school to learn to cook, Simeonie has another passion, anime. If cooking doesn't work out for him, he may try his hand at scriptwriting or voice acting.
"I believe I'll be able to pass without any trouble," said Simeonie. "I've been told I can go anywhere after I pass the culinary skills (program). I don't mind coming back here but I'm having trouble finding a job and making money."
Simeonie said a lot of the community came out for the graduation ceremony, and he's hoping there's another one next year.
"The way it's looking right now, it's not promising there's going to be a graduation, but I'm hoping there is," said Simeonie. "The only advice I have is just enjoy what you do best. Do that and the results will come naturally."
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