Hi! My name is Alooq Tagoona, and I am from Baker Lake, Nunavut. I have travelled here to Hamilton, Ontario, and my work placement is at Indwell – Parkdale Landing. I work in the kitchen preparing meals for residents at our location.

Before arriving in Hamilton, I was nervous because I was told that this city is rough and a dangerous place to be, but as I settled in and got to go places, I soon realized it’s not all that bad here. Everyone at my workplace and general public areas, have all been kind and helpful.

During my time with NYA I have made many friends who I will always remember, it’s great to meet new people and make new memories. I’ve also taken time to learn to have an open mindset towards others and myself. I’ve become more confident in speaking in front of audiences and doing things independently.

And I’ve got lost in the city because I got on the wrong bus! It was kinda funny though lol. I called my colleague, and she sent someone to go get me. And hey! Mistakes happen, and it’s okay because it provided a valuable learning opportunity for me as I got to know the city more. That experience taught me how to stay calm in similar situations.

Thanks to my host family, I have had the opportunity to travel through many towns and cities, including Toronto, London, Brampton, and Sudbury, on our way to our 5-day vacation on Manitoulin Island. And luckily for me, I’ve got to celebrate my birthday on the island! We’ve also got to spend the evening in Niagara Falls and “feel the wonder” of the Great Falls.

In conclusion, living down South made me realize that there are a lot of possibilities and a lot of things I could be; it has given me an idea of who I want to be and more reasons to push myself to become more. It has also given me the desire to keep going and keep exploring, and as a small-town kid, this is really important, and NYA can help with that! I highly encourage youth to apply to this program; it has left a positive impact on my life, and I hope sharing my experience has encouraged you to try it out too.