Student thanks those who helped him graduate

I recently graduated from Trent University with a general bachelor degree in biology and I would like to thank Trent for granting me a degree.

Thank you, sponsors, family members, and friends for making my studies easier.

I would like to thank Kakivak Association, Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students, Kivalliq Partners in Development, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, and St. John Evangelist Anglican Church of Peterborough, Ontario. I would also like to thank the John and Sheila Grant bursary, the Nunavut Training Implementation Commission scholarship, and NTI bursary for the additional support.

I would like to thank my parents for doing what they did because I became who I am after everything was taken away from me. I would not be as strong as I am now if it wasn’t for them.

I would like to thank my sister Wanda for always being there for me and my uncle Matiasie for raising the bar for me. I am a lot smarter because of you.

I thank our MLA Ronald Elliott for guiding me all the way through university. You kept me sane and helped me through the hardest times. Thank you relatives for supporting me. Thank you friends for being there for me and making me who I am. I am doing this for you and for the Inuit. I dedicate my degree to Philip Apak Anguti Robinson (1979-2006.) I thank those people who became my friends at Trent University, especially Yasuda Rai.

It took me a long time to complete my degree because I did not expect what I was supposed to do. I was not prepared for university. I have an ambition to make it easier for Inuit and that’s why, after I completed my degree, I went to Vancouver Community College School to take the B.C. provincial instructor diploma program to become an adult instructor. This program is first of two and it is transferable to university after completion.

I went ahead and paid for two courses (out of four) because students have to register and get into the course four weeks in advance. I was hoping that I would get funding for my program, but no funding agencies would grant me the money because the program is too short or that I was missing some documents.

I am now stuck in Vancouver after completing only two courses. I was hoping that I would take my courses all at once, but I could not afford the rest of the courses because I was not granted financial assistance. I would have had qualifications before the new year, but now I have to wait for the next session and complete those four courses.

I doubt that I would get funding because I’ve been having a hard time getting funding for my studies. I even had to rely on many people to complete my summer school at Trent to complete my degree requirements. Luckily, I did not have to go back for another academic year, because I would only be a part-time student and no one funds part-time students.

What I want to say to young people of Nunavut is that don’t let anything stop you from getting what you really want.

During my last year of university, my professor, Dr. Kapke, told me the best advice I’ve had in a while and that is to sacrifice your finances if you’re pursing a certificate because after you’re done no one will take that piece of paper from you and you will be qualified for a better job.

I hope to come home to Nunavut soon to teach my knowledge about biology and chemistry so you can have a more solid foundation for post-secondary studies in any field.

I hope to be in Nunavut soon teaching biology for those who are interested in pursing post-secondary studies. Keep up the good work students, if I can do university you can do it too.

Robby Qammaniq
Peterborough, Ont.

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