Genice Tran, a student in the College of Education (COE), was selected to be a speaker at the UH Mānoa 2022 Commencement Ceremony on May 14, 2022 where she will graduate with a BEd in Elementary Education. Tran is one of only three student speakers chosen after an online audition.

“I’m incredibly proud of Genice,” said Elementary Instructor and Cohort Coordinator Stacy George. “She represents one of our finest who is graduating from the college.”

The theme of Tran’s speech is ‘beginnings’ which, she explains, is about her journey at Mānoa where she has had the opportunity to learn and work with a diverse group of people, including professors, mentors, classmates, and elementary school students.

“They’ve all helped me find passion in teaching as well as strength within myself to continue moving forward,” Tran said. “I chose to pursue a degree in elementary education because I enjoy helping others find their own passions. I struggled a lot with finding a career path that was right for me, and despite taking a while to decide, I’m glad my final decision was teaching. I love seeing growth within my students and watching them shine. I’m excited to experience new things as I continue my teaching career.”

After graduation, Tran plans to enter the JET program to teach English in Japan. She hopes to find a teaching position until then and is considering pursuing a master’s degree upon her return.

“I would like to thank my parents for continuously supporting me in my long academic journey,” Tran concluded. “Despite having to raise four kids, my parents did the best they could to give us everything we needed to grow into the responsible and confident adults we are today. Thank you Mom and Dad!! I would also like to thank my siblings for always challenging me to become the best that I can be. I wasn’t always the ideal little sister, but thank you for putting up with me and supporting me!”