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 .”