Like many high school students across the country, IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Tasiana Shirley spent significant portions of the last few years learning from home, having been kept from the classroom by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thankfully, Shirley and her peers at the citySA国际影视传媒檚 Inuksuk High School were able to graduate in person, with all of of the pomp and circumstance they envisioned for themselves when they first walked into the building over four years ago.

SA国际影视传媒淭he ceremony itself was really lovely,SA国际影视传媒� Shirley said shortly after she graduated. SA国际影视传媒淚t was actually more extravagant than I thought it would be. The teachers really did an amazing job with the decorations and making it a day about all of us, and making it a day of celebration.SA国际影视传媒�

Shirley is one of 58 students to graduate from Inuksuk this year.

The graduation ceremony occurred on June 20, and featured speeches, photo opportunities and a rose ceremony, during which younger students gifted flowers to those leaving the school behind.

The ceremony also included a speech from Inuk hockey player Jordin Tootoo, who played for the NHLSA国际影视传媒檚 Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks before hanging up his skates in 2018.

SA国际影视传媒淭he speech with Jordin was really incredible for us,SA国际影视传媒� Shirley said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was really wonderful that he was able to do that for us.

SA国际影视传媒淭he speeches and the words of guidance and support were a really wonderful to have on that day.SA国际影视传媒�

While Shirley admits she is ready to SA国际影视传媒渢urn over a new leaf and move on from high school,SA国际影视传媒� there are things she will miss about Inuksuk, including her art class, and the friends she made there.

SA国际影视传媒淚t definitely feels like a mix between relief and excitement, and also hanging on to the sentimental values of my high school friendships and experiences,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he friendships that I held, especially in my art class with Ms. Margaret, were really wonderful. It was really a beautiful place to relax from all of my academic classes and pressures and just put on my headphones and make some paintings or drawings.SA国际影视传媒�

Shirley, whose high school career also included an acting role in the film Slash/Back and a trip to Winnipeg for the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition, has big plans for the future.

Her first priority is a summer cruise through the Arctic Ocean with her family. Once thatSA国际影视传媒檚 over, she will head south, having been accepted into the University of TorontoSA国际影视传媒檚 four-year social sciences program.

If that goes according to plan, she aspires to enter law school.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e lived in Iqaluit my whole life,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 definitely going to be a transition moving from the smallest city in the nation to the biggest. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a change.SA国际影视传媒�

Those are lofty goals for a teenager, but after four years at Inuksuk High School, Shirley feels well equipped to achieve them.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that my years in high school definitely have been the most influential in my life, obviously,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓specially after the last year, I really feel like ISA国际影视传媒檓 one step closer to finding myself and my passion.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven with the unpleasant Covid interruptions, these past few years have really shown me the importance of communication SA国际影视传媒� even if itSA国际影视传媒檚 through Zoom SA国际影视传媒� and getting in touch with my artistic side, and learning my passion for fitness, and being connected with my family.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l truly be ready for life outside of my home.SA国际影视传媒�

ShirleySA国际影视传媒檚 confidence is not unique, according to Tess Thurber, Inuksuk High SchoolSA国际影视传媒檚 Grade 11 and 12 guidance counsellor.

Thurber believes all of the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 grad are ready for the real world, despite being SA国际影视传媒渋n the building the leastSA国际影视传媒� out of any group of students.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey definitely worked to make up for it in Grade 12 SA国际影视传媒� not just in terms of their academics but to make their experience memorable. They were very active in different groups and sports.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur graduates this year, they are definitely poised to take action. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 hesitate to ask for help or reach out if they need it,SA国际影视传媒� said Thurber. SA国际影视传媒淭hey certainly also have qualities of lifting each other up and supporting each other, and I think that those qualities, as well as all of the things theySA国际影视传媒檝e learned academically and socially in the walls of this school, have prepared them for the next chapters of their lives.SA国际影视传媒�