"I have always been passionate about and supporting the youth in our community, and that's what led me to this career path,” reflects Tanisha Steinwand. She is from Behchoko, Northwest Territories, where she grew up. She attended grade ten there, then finished her high school education in Yellowknife. For work these days, she works as a support assistant in a grade one and two class and in the afternoon she works with Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten.

"I always wanted to show the younger generation that you can do what I'm doing,” Steinwand explains. She loves working with the grade ones and twos so much, making connections with the little ones. At the same time, she’s going to school full time at Aurora College, taking early learning childcare. In her second semester, she’s doing well in her classes, though juggling work and school is a struggle. She had planned to reduce her course load but decided she just wants to get things done. She has two years left on her diploma and she hopes to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Her advice to Indigenous students leaving their home communities to pursue their education is that it’s probably a good chance for them to explore the world and that there are more opportunities out there. Steinwand notes that not many people have the opportunity to explore the world given not many people get to leave the community. She acknowledges it would be scary at first but believes once they get used to it, they would be fine. Having left for school at 16 herself, she was on her own and she did okay.

When it comes to obstacles she’s faced, Steinwand had to adjust to new environments and balanced multiple roles when she switched over. Before becoming a support assistant, she was working at social services and it was different working at a school from working in an office. She’s also struggled to support all the kids and worried if they would be cooperative. In the end, it all worked out.

Balancing her mental well-being can be a struggle. Steinwand plays sports and when she works, and has classes and also plays sports, some nights she doesn’t get home until midnight. She has to remember to eat and sleep to take care of herself. Going for walks with her dog to get fresh air, she leaves her phone at home so she can give her dog her full attention and she can strategize about what she has to do. When things are bothering her, she talks to her friends and gets their advice or she listens to music. Her parents are supportive, attending all her games and tournaments. “I probably wouldn't have been the person I am without my parents," she muses.

When it comes to inspiration, Steinwand looks to the youth in her community, whether at her school or when she’s coaching soccer. "They inspire me to do what I do, and not to give up. Sometimes I do get really tired and mentally, sometimes I just feel like I can't do it. But then I think about the younger generation, and I think that I don't want to give up because I don't want them to see that, and I just want to be like their role model, encourage them to go to school and come to class and pay attention in school and not only that, but in sports too," she confides. She sees the potential in some of the kids she coaches and how far they can go if they try.

Her passion for supporting youth led Tanisha Steinwand to this work and keeps her going on the hard days. Working in class by day and studying by night, she’s living and chasing her early childhood education dreams at the same time. Pursuing her goals and scoring them in her sporting life, too, she pursues balance and opportunities as a role model for her students.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.