Eric Anoee Jr. is one proud dad when it comes to the career choice of his son, Nangmalik, who left Arviat to begin his college studies earlier this month.

Nangmalik, 18, is enrolled in the three-year aviation management program at Georgian College in Barrie, Ont., taking his first steps to becoming a pilot.

Georgian College is a college of applied arts and technology, which has 13,000 full-time students on seven different campuses, the largest of which is in Barrie.

Eric said he noticed his son was becoming more-and-more serious about becoming a pilot when he began to start his high school years.

But at first, he wasn't totally convinced Nangmalik was really serious about becoming a pilot because, like most youth, he just wanted to enjoy being a kid and leave tough decisions like career choices for later in life.

SA国际影视传媒淚 began to realize he was getting more serious about his career choice as his years in senior high were going by,SA国际影视传媒� said Eric.

SA国际影视传媒淚t took me a long time to research a career as a pilot because we have nothing like aviation schools or real exposure to any part of that industry up here.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a parent, I felt I needed to find out as much as I could about what he truly wanted to do.SA国际影视传媒�

Eric said being closer to home than a number of similar schools probably played a significant role in why Nangmalik choose Georgian College.

He said he supports whatever choice his son makes and would never want to be seen as a father forcing a career on his child.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all have hope and expectations for our kids but I just want to be there for my son and offer him any support I'm able to,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 don't have any real concerns over the dangers that can come as a pilot, but I am finding out it's certainly not an easy career to get into unless you have a lot of money.

SA国际影视传媒淭he way the industry trains pilots, it's very expensive to attend a specialized place to gain your license.

SA国际影视传媒淭he college route seems to be the most cost-effective way. One can get funded by the government to go through the college system and that helps a great deal.SA国际影视传媒�

Eric said it's, ultimately, up to his son if he wants to become a Northern pilot like Jeremy Maley of Rankin Inlet, or if he prefers to try a more southern location.

He said Maley became a real eye-opener for a lot of kids in Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淛eremy's from up here and he's still quite young. When a lot of kids first heard about him, they realized maybe they could accomplish the same thing if they try to do it.

SA国际影视传媒淗e's proof it can be done.SA国际影视传媒�

When Eric left his son at Georgian College earlier this month, he left him with encouragement and a few words of wisdom.

He told Nangmalik to try his best and, seeing how much he wants this, give it a fair chance and don't give up when he hits his first hardships.

SA国际影视传媒淚 told him it will get easier with time.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know homesickness will get to him, but I reminded him this was his choice and years ago people didn't have a choice.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were forced to do this or that, and move to settlements and such, but kids today have a choice and he has to try his best to complete his studies.

SA国际影视传媒淭he reality of it is that any youth up here who wants to pursue a career in aviation will have to go quite far away from home to pursue that goal.SA国际影视传媒�