Hello everyone!

My name is Millie-Anna Aaruaq. I am from Baker Lake Nunavut with a population just under 2,500, living in such an isolated community limits your opportunities and desires to explore. Not that I don’t miss home at all, but just having the idea to find out who I want to be and what I am capable of in the future. Yes, there are many opportunities in Nunavut, but they don’t give me the same urge to learn new things and explore as much as I can with this program.

I am here in Ottawa Ontario with the Northern Youth Abroad Next program. This program has opened many doors for me as an Inuk student who has dreamed of becoming more then just a small community girl. Each and everyday is something new to me, trying new foods, trying different trades such as carpentry, plumbing and pipe fitting, welding, first aid, and many more to come. But my most favourite part of this program is learning about the other participants and project leaders culture and creating unforgettable moments and memories with them.

This program has made a huge impact on my life, it has open my eyes to what is being offered to me. I am great full for this opportunity from NYA as this is my last year to attend any programs from NYA as a participant.

I’d like to thank all the staff for their unconditional support and love they have given me over the years I’ve attended any of the programs, as I attended post secondary they will still have the support and love they have given me over the years.

While taking NYA programs I have grown and learn so much, I have learnt to be more independent, to be a leader, and learnt that having emotions and feelings is okay. I am becoming the woman I want to be because they taught me so much about who I am and who I will like to be in the future.

Once again, I’d like to thank the staff from NYA.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Millie-Anna