INUVIK
Four years ago Adrienne Talbot threw her entire world into a tailspin.

Adrienne Talbot, left, and Alexandra Pulwicki are with Frontiers Foundation, an international organization that places volunteers in communities across Canada and around the world. Pulwicki has been in Inuvik for six months while Talbot has been working at the school in the library teaching students how to use computers for over four years now. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

The mother of two gave all her belongings away, sold her car for $500 and packed her life into a couple suitcases. When she closed the door of her apartment for one last time before handing the keys over to her landlord, Talbot began a journey that would lead her to lifelong memories and an opportunity to inspire youth to strive and achieve their dreams and goals.

As a volunteer for Frontiers Foundation for the last four years in Inuvik, Talbot says has experienced more than she could have ever asked for - for herself and for the students and community she works with everyday.

"I wanted to do service work and gave everything I owed away and researched organizations and Frontiers was where I landed," she said, adding since her two daughters were off at university, she wanted to get involved in volunteer organizations. "The North was my goal because my aunts had lived in Yellowknife in the 1960s."

Frontiers Foundation is an aboriginal non-profit organization that helps facilitate community development projects across Canada.

When Talbot first arrived she thought she'd be spending the majority of her time working in the school library. She was wrong. It wasn't long after her arrival that school administration decided to capitalize on her photography and graphic arts background by giving her the keys to the computer lab. From there, she began to teach students typing, Powerpoint, Microsoft Office and other important computer skills.

Talbot has also immersed herself in photography by working with the school's on the land program to help create an annual book showcasing each trip involving students. She's been on caribou and moose hunts, learned to set snares and skin animals and says she believes this traditional knowledge is integral to youth success in and out of the classroom.

"It turned out to be everything I expected," she said. "I didn't think I'd make the friends I have who have shown me all the things I've learned."

Alexandra Pulwicki echoes this sentiment. She got involved with Frontiers because she wanted to gain knowledge and perspective of the world outside of the classroom. Graduating from university last year, she wanted to travel and do volunteer work before she went back to school for her next degree.

"I wanted to do something different and get a change of pace and perspective," she said.

When she first decided to come to Inuvik, she admits to feeling a sense of nervousness about the choice.

"It wasn't the safe choice," she said. "I knew what to expect with school and life and just kind of threw that out the window when I chose to come here. I've gained a lot of courage and putting myself out there has been incredible."

Both Talbot and Pulwicki spend their days working at East Three School, wearing a variety of hats. They work with the basketball team, help prepare food for school events, teach photography and computer classes and work in the library.

Being this deeply involved in the school's day-to-day life gives them the opportunity to help students in the classroom, as well as in their lives outside, says Pulwicki.

"I think it's good to have another person in the classroom for students to connect with," she said. "If some kids can connect with me, I can relate to that."

Talbot said it's been fulfilling for her to be able to provide students with insight into aspects of the world they may have only had limited engagement with previously.

"I'd ask (them) what they want to learn and they didn't know," she said, talking about when she first began teaching computer class. "Now they're asking about college and how I got good at photography and computers. Some of my students are making animated cartoons. So now they've got options and are moving into high school to continue with it."