Rayjean Palluq wanted a taste of the military.
He signed up for the Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year (ALOY), an offering at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., and received so much more.
Palluq, whose mother Gwendolyn Palluq is originally from Iglulik, graduated from the one-year course June 7.
photo courtesy Steven McQuaid /DND-MDN Canada
SA国际影视传媒淥verall, it was an amazing year. You learn so much. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 crazy highs, and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 some hardships. You meet all kinds of people.SA国际影视传媒�
As Palluq tells it, attitude is all.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to come wanting to change, wanting to put in the effort. The military is not easy, but if you come here wanting to change, wanting to better yourself, then that opportunity is here for you,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The challenge for Palluq was in working as a team.
SA国际影视传媒淲e started out as 30 people this year. EveryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 here to get the job done. They really push you to your limits, but the reward afterward is completing it together,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Palluq joined other Indigenous youth from across Canada.
SA国际影视传媒淭he benefit, for me, is that you get university credits. You get a full year of university, fully paid for by the military,SA国际影视传媒� said Palluq.
SA国际影视传媒淩egardless of your high-school status, theySA国际影视传媒檒l let you in. If you didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get the best marks in high school SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 perfect. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l give you a tutor. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l give you every opportunity to excel. If your English is weak, or youSA国际影视传媒檙e struggling in math, theySA国际影视传媒檒l find you a tutor.SA国际影视传媒�
The program is designed to provide students of Indigenous heritage with individual, group, and cultural experiences that will help build leadership and life skills, explained Second Lieutenant (2Lt) Mark Emmerson, assistant public affairs officer at the college.
SA国际影视传媒淭he ALOY program includes sports, field trips, leadership development, military training, cultural support activities and individual learning plans. Through these learning plans, participants take part in individual and small-group tutorials for pre-university (non-credit) and first-year university courses,SA国际影视传媒� Emmerson stated by e-mail.
Participants are enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces for one year as an Officer Cadet and receive free tuition and books.
Palluq said the one-year program taught him about self-motivation.
SA国际影视传媒淓ven if your goal isnSA国际影视传媒檛 to join the military, itSA国际影视传媒檚 an opportunity to better yourself as a person, to gain leadership skills, to get outside your comfort zone, to try something different,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
All the possible resources are available to the youth, including mental health supports.
SA国际影视传媒淚 had some friends here that are troubled with mental health, but youSA国际影视传媒檙e a full member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and that comes with a lot of benefits SA国际影视传媒� amazing mental health support. Within two or three days you get an appointment with a psychiatrist and you can talk with them about how you feel,SA国际影视传媒� said Palluq.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you decide this counsellor is not for me, you can go to another.SA国际影视传媒�
Palluq says there are even financial advisors to help learn about money matters, especially important since the youth get paid and may have no experience with managing it.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou come here with a problem? They can help you out with it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
PalluqSA国际影视传媒檚 most treasured experience came at the end of the year.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big canoe trip that ALOY does, a canoe trip from Smith Falls to Kingston. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 around 110 km. YouSA国际影视传媒檙e out in the field. EveryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 helping each other. I know I can rely on my friend, and he can rely on me. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e family. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e going to do this together,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The youth have the opportunity to use all the skills theySA国际影视传媒檝e learned throughout the year, and each has the opportunity to lead their teams.
SA国际影视传媒淚 really want to get the message out there about this program, and to get more Inuit involved in this program,SA国际影视传媒� said Palluq, adding he knows itSA国际影视传媒檚 a big change leaving Nunavut for the south.
SA国际影视传媒淏ut itSA国际影视传媒檚 such an amazing opportunity. Give it a try. University costs so much, especially from up North trying out university. And they really do want you to succeed.SA国际影视传媒�
