Youth plan for future
College tour takes students on whirlwind trip through B.C. and Alberta
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 2, 2014
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
The kinesiology program at the University of British Columbia may have a student from Fort Providence in a few years thanks to an initiative by Deh Gah School.
From Sept. 22 to 26, 17 Grade 11 and 12 students from Fort Providence, plus one student each from both Yellowknife and Fort Simpson, toured a series of colleges and universities in both B.C. and Alberta. Deh Gah School tries to run one college tour every year.
"We organize the tours to give our youth a sense of what post-secondary options are available to them and so they understand that to get into a program there are entrance requirements that they will have to meet," wrote Lois Philipp, the school's principal, in an e-mail.
"Hopefully it will give them a goal for the next year in terms of academic achievement."
The tour also helps prepare the students for the challenges and new experiences they will face if they go to school in a larger centre, said Jim Snider, the school's vice-principal, who was one of three staff members on this year's trip. In addition to taking campus tours and making connections at the schools' aboriginal student centres, the students learned how to ride public transit, including the SkyTrain in Vancouver, and how to navigate in a city and through an airport. Exposure to new foods, like a dinner at an East Indian restaurant, is also part of the tour.
It was a whirlwind trip, with the group staying in a different hotel every night and visiting multiple schools each day.
"We want them to see as many programs and schools as possible," said Snider.
One of the questions Snider asks the students is if they can see themselves living in each community because similar programs are offered at different schools.
"Some of them are like, 'I want to go to school here,'" he said.
Taking students on the tour allows them to see what is out there and to get excited about the possibilities. It also takes the mystery out of a lot of aspects of post-secondary studies including life in dorms, Snider said.
Christina Bonnetrouge can picture herself living in Vancouver and studying at the University of British Columbia - one of the tour stops in B.C.
"It's a really good school. I fell in love with it," said the Grade 11 student.
After learning about it at the University of Victoria, Bonnetrouge is considering studying kinesiology. The trip was an amazing opportunity to see different colleges and universities, she said.
"It makes me very excited to know what is out there," said Bonnetrouge.
Camosun College's Interurban Campus in Victoria, impressed Jade Bonnetrouge, who liked its trades and fitness centre. Jade, 19, is thinking about going into welding or mechanics.
The tour marked the first time Jade had been to Vancouver and Nanaimo. The Grade 11-12 student said he'd definitely recommend the tour to other high school students.
"If they want to see what they are getting themselves into for college," he said.
