Hi my name is Sheena Bonnetrouge I am 16 years old and I’m from Fort Providence NWT. I wanted to join NYA to experience what’s outside of my small community and what opportunities are waiting for me. The first 1/2 weeks I wanted to go home and didn’t think I would make it to the end of the program, I wasn’t used to getting up early, always being on my feet, and just always being busy it was all new to me. I came into the program not really knowing what to expect, with only knowing it would be challenging. After a while I realized it was good to have a schedule and be busy. I would still apply for the program if I know what I do now cause it helped me be more open minded and productive, having more emotional control, how to be a better leader (even if I choose not to be one someone will always look up to me), and also helped me with social and communication skills which I set as one of my goals for the summer. NYA helped me realize I can set goals and achieve them, I also decided I wanted to go to Algonquin collage after I finish high school.

We also did some volunteer work at the Mission which is a place that feeds homeless people. We prepared condiments in containers for them and a couple of them from the group got to serve with the cooks. We also went to a garlic farm, who donates the money they make to a local hospital. We helped them pull, clean, and cut the garlic over a few days which was such an amazing opportunity getting to be apart of that.

I would also like to take a minute to appreciate all my new amazing funny and energetic outgoing friends I met over the summer. They helped me step out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to do the best that I can do. When they see someone is stepping out of line they let them know what they are doing wrong and what they should be doing and that’s a really good group skill we developed over the summer and I’m really gonna miss them all, we had a lot of fun over the last few weeks.

I also got to experience a Chinese cooking class and it was such an amazing opportunity to learn how to cook a couple different meals I wanted to learn. Cooking is something I discovered I want to continue learning more about when I get home and further in the future. Lastly I would like to thank the NYA staff who helped us over the summer I know it wasn’t easy but they did their best to understand each and everyone of us. A big group of 14 for only a couple group leaders at a time can be a lot, so thank you for that and also helping me understand myself more and not giving up.