"I believe that learning from the environment and from the community is valuable and this has encouraged me to combine both my interests of agriculture and education into a project that I hope has a positive impact on students.”

Hometown

I Liyang, Saipan

Department

Curriculum Studies

What degrees do you hold or are you working towards?
I have a BS in Tropical Agriculture and the Environment from CTAHR and am now pursuing my master’s in Tropical Plant and Soil Studies. I am also currently applying to the COE’s graduate certificate in Sustainability and Resilience Education.

How did you become interested in the field of education? The Curriculum Studies Program?
I became interested in the field of education through my graduate studies as I am working on a project focused on developing agricultural curriculum for the Northern Marianas College (NMC) located in Saipan with the goal being to provide students the opportunity to transfer to a 4-year university. Through meetings, lectures, conversations, and community interaction, one aspect of education that I have grown passionate about is incorporating place-based learning into a tailored curriculum. I believe that learning from the environment and from the community is valuable, and this has encouraged me to combine both my interests of agriculture and education into a project that I hope has a positive impact on students.

As part of Dr. Pauline Chinn’s EDCS 640P Place-Based Education and Sustainability Education (Ahupua’a Watershed) class, you spoke about ways students and faculty at UH Mānoa can access food. Please share briefly about this.                       CTAHR has a club called SOFT (Student Organic Farm Training) which is a student-led organization initiated in 2007. It aims to provide UH students with hands-on farming experiences and the opportunity to grow their own food such as tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, and herbs. Students are responsible for taking care of the crops they are growing but they are well rewarded when it comes time to harvest! There are also occasional field-trips. It is a great way to build connections, make friends, grow amazing produce, and learn from others who are also interested in food production or who like being outdoors.

Do you work or participate in any clubs or organizations in or outside of school?
I am a graduate assistant under the Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (TPSS) department at CTAHR where I work on developing agricultural curriculum. As a graduate assistant, I also help in assisting our lab with work-days where we have done ‘ōlena harvesting and ‘uala planting.

How has the COE program impacted or benefited your career path?
COE has impacted my view on the effort that goes into curriculum designing and development. I did not realize how much collaboration, meticulous planning, and research it requires. The COE program has increased my interest and my passion in creating course content that students enjoy and can use to feel connected to their place of learning. I believe that this program will be extremely beneficial to my career path and my goal to foster a sense of agricultural stewardship through place-based education, especially for students in the CNMI.

What are your future plans with your degree?
This is something I am still thinking about! I would like to move back to Saipan after completing my graduate degree to possibly work with our college or educational system as either a researcher, extension agent, or instructor.

Anything else you would like to include?
Although I am new to COE, I am super grateful for the connections I have made and the people I have met! Having connections with both CTAHR and COE and having the chance to engage in meaningful conversations, has definitely enriched my educational journey.