Hi my name is Mackenzie porter, I am 17 and I am from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut.

So far it has been more than 2 weeks in Ottawa with 14 other participants. Everyday NYA next gives us the chance to experience things we seen only on the tv, and challenge us to gain more knowledge about the city and real world. But from my own experience and how I feel, I have been loving it a lot! People say that Ottawa is very boring but I personally think it has a lot more than my whole territory. And a whole lot of opportunities, and places to explore. Being able to finally fly out this far from Gjoa Haven has been incredibly rewarding after the work me, my mentor and family had to do in order to be many miles out of my comfort zone, I appreciate them a lot.

This program has been teaching me from scholarships, how to build a dog house in trades, leadership, responsibilities, self love, expressing myself, using the bus and door dashing lol including the importance of my roots and culture, also learning the challenges and stress of post secondary life can be. But truthfully, the true lesson of all is how connected you are to yourself & your community can really uplift you.

I have never been able to work myself this hard until I had the support of my funny, beautiful friends here, especially the leaders here I truly appreciate Hayley, Mahasi and Shantel(etc). Community and helping one another is beneficial for everyone to grow. But still at the end of the day it’s who you want to be, the choices you make that can shape you. The path you choose for yourself, and how far your welling to work in order to get somewhere you want to be ,and who you let in your circle. But yeah, my time here has been so exiting, I love the big trees but the heat can get so intense sometimes.

Also I went paddle boating one hour out of Ottawa with this one family owned company referred as ‘mad river paddle company’ they made me feel very welcomed and I had such a great time. I went to a festival for the first time and tried the rides so many times to the point were I got very sick with my friends. We have been to the Garlic farm for volunteering at least 5 times with Haileigh and Lekesha, we now call it our second home now, as a joke. Many more places in such a short period time I can’t even count everything on my fingers.

I also want to mention that I met this one crazy girl, she taught and motivate me to have self love, make money, and obviously have fun. This friendship is one of a kind, and she is literally the best, she has the ability to make me laugh until I grow abs, and has the most entertaining stories and energy, she truly is beautiful. And I consider us to be two peas in a pod, I am beyond grateful for her and everyone in this program.

That being said NYA has been such a well rewarding educational program, I could never replace this for anything, I will continue to improve and grow as a women. NYA helped me open my eyes, and proved to me that I’m capable of working towards anything I desire.