Education News | Page 19 because he tutored her throughout high school in math:“ Jackson was patient even when I was frustrated. He would calm me down and encourage me.”
Being a role model is why the teaching profession is so significant; Nahanni says,“ We are the educators that need to be there for students, not just as a job, but as they develop. A teacher should be someone that students look up to for the rest of their lives. Someone who is a role model. I want to be a role model.”
Nahanni chose the University of Regina( U of R) for her elementary teacher education program for several reasons: She wanted to stay in Regina because it was close to her mom and her twin brother. Nahanni adds,“ I thought it would be a great place to study. I had heard from friends and friends of friends that this education program is the best in Canada.”
Her experience at the U of R has been positive. Nahanni says,“ I love it. I was first accepted into the Faculty of Arts. I didn’ t get into the Faculty of Education, I think maybe because I was a bit late sending in forms. I took three classes in the Arts program that all transferred over into my education program.”
The next year Nahanni was accepted as a transfer into the Faculty of Education.“ I was so happy. It was the best thing ever. I called my mom and my dad and I cried and danced. It was a lot of emotion. I was alone in my house. I am really happy. It all worked out. That mind set of when I was a kid— I stay true to that today. Everything will work out and it did,” she says
A major obstacle Nahanni had to overcome to go to University was her tendency toward procrastination. Nahanni says,“ I kept making excuses and putting it off, telling myself I was going to apply. Mom and Jackson kept saying,‘ Just apply!’ Jackson on a daily basis asked‘ Have you applied yet?’ One day I just did it because I didn’ t want him asking me anymore. The next time he asked, I could say,‘ I did it already.’”
As advice to others considering becoming a teacher, Nahanni says,“ Just put in your application. Don’ t make excuses and see where it goes. Who knows, it might change your life. If you’ re nervous or scared, that’ s the point where you push yourself a little, because you know you want to become a teacher. I was nervous, too, afraid I wasn’ t good enough to be a university student. Now I don’ t think that at all. I know I can do it.”
“ She was the one who paid close attention to me; she built that student-teacher relationship. She made me feel seen and heard.”