Graduation and beyond! Adele Okheena

Sometimes, you meet 18 year olds who have already found their direction in life. Adele Okheena is one of these rare people. “I want to become a teacher. We need more Inuvialuit teachers,” she said. The fresh graduate of Helen Kalvak School is now working in Ulukaktok’s Hamlet office. Her efficiency at work was amazing. She helped more than a dozen people within 15 minutes!

At the jamboree, she participated in almost all the games and still managed to volunteer as a score keeper. “In school, I was in the grad committee. I was with DEA for a year. I am a self-government youth representative, on the special events committee and in the youth council,” she said. “A lot of meetings, but I’m learning a lot.”

She was chosen to be valedictorian of her class, after a vote by teachers and fellow students. Did she know why? “They must think I am smart, very responsible…” Adele bursts into laughter. “Actually, it was pretty hard this year, I had a bit of a problem with Math. I was doing individual studies, and felt pretty scared about taking my departmentals. I asked my teachers for help. When I encounter obstacles, I try to take it step by step and think it through.”

“Graduation Day itself was nerve wrecking. We had a ceremony and a feast. I hated the hat with the tassels, my hair was getting flat!”

“I’ve gone to the same school from Kindergarten to grade 12! When I was younger I looked forward to leaving Ulukhaktok for High School, but I am glad in the end I chose to stay.”

“I’ve applied with Grant McEwan College and Aurora College. I want to come back to Ulukhaktok after college. When I was in school I volunteered with a teacher who taught grade 4 and 5. After that I liked working with little kids. They have a great attitude and like to giggle when they work.”

“I used to not like going to school, but being a teacher has changed my perspective of teachers. Now I want to go to more school!”

" Is it important to be cool in Ulukhaktok? To me, not really, it’s more important to be who you are.”