Hello everyone! My name is Rowena Kogvik, and I’m from Gjoa-Haven, Nunavut. Here is a little bit about me.

My favourite things to do are: going camping, hunting, sewing, beading, and a lot more. When I first landed here in Ottawa, I felt nervous to meet new people, and super exited to learn more and new things.

My favourite part about this program is meeting new friends, all the activities we all did as a group, going to the museum of history is one of my favourite place that we went to. Trades was a lot of fun, I enjoyed using a jack hammer, and welding, touring around the city of Ottawa, learning how to take buses and navigating, but my most favourite thing that I did was getting a tattoo same day as one of my friends that I just met here at NYA.

The NYA Next program has helped me grow and learn so much about my future and also myself, I’ve learned so much about living on campus, and how it is to live in the south. I have learnt how to be more independent, more comfortable with people that I haven’t met before. I love how the staff and super supportive and helpful to each and one of the participants and the people that are surrounded by them.

My favourite thing that I like so far about my personal learning project was going to the Ghana Festival and trying new different foods and learning about their different languages. And also learning about the history of totems at the museum of history.

For the young generation that reads this, I encourage you all to get out of your comfort zone and try any opportunities that are given to you.

Thank you, Rowena.