“I believe that there's truly something beautiful in guiding others to find their own light,” muses Akesha Hardisty-Norwegian. She is from Jean Marie River but grew up in Yellowknife when her mom was studying to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Aurora College. Later, they moved to Fort Simpson to be closer to family.  These days, she’s in her last year of her own studies at the University of Alberta, finishing a Bachelor of Education. She just completed her last practicum in a grade one class, gaining valuable experience for when she becomes a teacher. 

After she graduates, Hardisty-Norwegian hopes to travel and teach as part of the Teaching Beyond Borders program. It’s an opportunity to teach while travelling the world. She became motivated on this career path by her own love of  learning and wanting to share what she learned with others. Her late grandparents shared stories and teachings with her when she was young and that passion came through in her.  Her own experiences with education also motivated her to teach. The incredible teachers, coaches and mentors she had herself made her want to be that kind of teacher for future students. She hopes to help students find their own passions. 

Her advice for Indigenous students who have to leave their home communities to pursue their education is, ”Just do it. There are so many rewarding opportunities and new experiences that truly enhance your knowledge and perspective when you do leave your community. Even if you're unsure or don't know what to study, I recommend taking open studies at a university, and then for me personally, University has expanded my understanding of how many career paths that are an option for everyone to take, and to always remember that home is always home. Your community will always welcome you back with open arms and it's not going anywhere.”

When it comes to obstacles she’s faced, the change in pace of the first year and the need for time management to allow for the new workload were big ones. That said, Hardisty-Norwegian saw many of her friends with the same challenges and that normalized what she was going through. Taking a step back and contextualizing the situation, realizing this was something to be expected, helped. Going to office hours with her professors helped, too. 

The lack of Indigenous peers in her classes was another struggle Hardisty-Norwegian faced, being one of maybe two Indigenous students in a class of 200. “I felt very small and out of place,” she recalls.  Having a strong support system helped her get through that difficulty. Drawing on the resources for Indigenous students at her university was useful also. When making the move from home to life as an independent young adult, remembering a quote one of her professors shared, “growth doesn't happen in your comfortable spaces” helped ease the discomfort. It helps her even to this day. 

To attend to her mental wellness, Hardisty-Norwegian maintains her active lifestyle, playing sports year-round. She plays soccer, goes to the gym and walks to get some sun. She spends time with her friend group and phones her parents daily or every other day just to talk, not just to ask for things.  

“I think it's important for students to realize that you don't always have to do schoolwork. There's deadlines and there's stuff that you're committed to, but at the same time, you're still a person, you're still human, your mental health still matters,” Hardisty-Norwegian affirms. 

When it comes to inspiration, Hardisty-Norwegian is inspired by her mom, one of the strongest women she knows. She admires her achievements professionally and personally, her determination, her resilience, her work ethic, her positive mindset, appreciates the wisdom she shares and having her as a role model which has shaped who she has become. 

In closing, Hardisty-Norwegian shares, “I think it's really important to motivate our Indigenous people and to know that we're always here to support and help them where it's needed, and I hope that more Indigenous people go to school and do what they want to do, because we deserve it as well.”

Preparing herself to guide students to find their own light, Akesha Hardisty-Norwegian is pursuing her dream of being a teacher. Inspired by the teachers who helped her find her own light, she’s going to travel the world and see what she sees. As someone who loves to learn, she’s had so many chances to expand her knowledge and will get to pay that forward when she gets her own classroom.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.