She didnSA国际影视传媒檛 graduate high school, but that hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 stopped NaujaatSA国际影视传媒檚 Candy Ivalutanar on her journey to becoming a teacher in her community.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 my dream,SA国际影视传媒� said Ivalutanar about teaching in Naujaat, where she lives with her family.

Originally from Kugaaruk, she withdrew from school after having a child SA国际影视传媒� not for any lack of passion or success in the school system.

SA国际影视传媒淢y child is more important than I am, so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how come I dropped out of school,SA国际影视传媒� said Ivalutanar. SA国际影视传媒淚 was doing very good in school. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 just that my child came first.SA国际影视传媒�

She moved to Naujaat in 2006, getting married the next year. In 2009, Ivalutanar started driving the school bus in Naujaat, where she also became a substitute teacher.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would go to work at 7 and without having break or lunch, I would work till 5,SA国际影视传媒� she remembers. SA国际影视传媒淚t was like a 10-hour job.SA国际影视传媒�

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when she wanted to start pursuing a teaching career more seriously, and as soon as she was accepted in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP), she quit work and enrolled in classes.

Currently finishing off her third year in NTEP, Ivalutanar said her partner and two younger daughters have been her biggest supporters.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 hard, because I never graduated high school,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen I just started [NTEP], I thought I was going to fail the first year, but I still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 failed and ISA国际影视传媒檓 still going. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 stressful, it gets hard at times, especially at the end of the year. ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy that ISA国际影视传媒檓 not just alone in this.SA国际影视传媒�

Last fall, Ivalutanar was awarded the Qulliq Energy CorporationSA国际影视传媒檚 annual Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier scholarship, earning her $5,000 to go toward supporting her studies. The award recognizes a Nunavut post-secondary student who is demonstrating a combination of community leadership, an extraordinary commitment to educational achievement and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 going to help me a lot,SA国际影视传媒� said Ivalutanar. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a great honour because ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure a lot of students tried and ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy that everyone supported me in this.SA国际影视传媒�

Now with two daughters in school SA国际影视传媒� one turning 17 in March, the other 12 in October SA国际影视传媒� Ivalutanar makes sure they know the importance of education.

SA国际影视传媒淲e get them up every morning and they go to school daily,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy that theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing great. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a good thing, that we know weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing good somewhere.SA国际影视传媒�

As a teacher, Ivalutanar wants to make sure Inuktitut is strong in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e starting to lose our language,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 coming in very fast. I was thinking that we need more Inuit teachers SA国际影视传媒� talk more in Inuktitut SA国际影视传媒� instead of having teachers coming from down south.SA国际影视传媒�

With how prevalent technology is these days, Ivalutanar thinks there must be some ways to leverage technology to teach the language SA国际影视传媒� though she has a personal preference for physical books.

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 not quite sure what she wants to teach when she gets back into the classroom, but she loves math.

For anyone struggling with school, Ivalutanar urges them to press forward.

SA国际影视传媒淜eep going no matter what, because weSA国际影视传媒檝e all got this,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 never graduated high school. ISA国际影视传媒檓 still going.SA国际影视传媒�

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