“The COE program impacted and benefited my career path by teaching me about work ethic, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence both with myself and my students.”

Department

School of Teacher Education - Elementary

Related Degrees

• BEd, Elementary Education

From what program did you graduate?
I recently graduated and completed my BEd degree from the STE Elementary Education program’s Ka Malu O Kaiona* cohort.

How did you become interested in the field of education?
I became interested in the field of education when I started working with the city and county Summer Fun program in 2015 (I still work there to this day). At that time, I had just completed my associate degree in liberal arts, and I wanted to transition to UH Mānoa to work in a field that I am passionate about. Thankfully, I found education, and I have not looked back ever since.

How has the COE program helped you along the way on your career path?
The COE program impacted and benefited my career path by teaching me about work ethic, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence both with myself and my students.

Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to pursue teaching as a career?
My 6th-grade teacher, Mr. Taone, inspired me to pursue a career in teaching because he was the first male teacher in my life, and he took the time to really teach me valuable skills and lessons that have stuck with me as an adult.

What is your most memorable experience from being a part of the Ka Malu O Kaiona cohort?
My most memorable experience was the beach excursion we had back at the beginning of the program. Since we were approaching the end of year one in the College of Education, it was nice to bond together, get to know each other, and talk about future goals and aspirations.

How has COVID-19 affected your life? What have you been doing to adjust and adapt? What has brought you the most comfort during this time?
COVID -19 has affected my life immensely; however, I would say this experience has taught me to be patient and allowed me to reflect on myself and who I am as an educator, and work on future goals that I set for myself.

What has brought me the most comfort during this time would have to be my family. With COVID-19 being such a prevalent event in our lives today, I have been given the opportunity to appreciate family and spend time with them.

What are your future visions and goals?
My future vision is to be an effective educator who puts his students first and leads by example both in the classroom and community. A goal of mine would be to complete my master’s degree hopefully in the foreseeable future. At this time, I am unaware of what degree field I want to pursue but I know when I make that decision I will put my mind and heart into it.

*Ka Malu O Kaiona is a K-6 elementary cohort in the School of Teacher Education Elementary Program based in Wai‘anae Coast partner schools with the goal of recruiting future teachers for and from Wai‘anae Coast communities. The program focuses on place-based learning, culturally relevant pedagogy, and community advocacy. Spring 2020 marks the first graduates of the Ka Malu O Kaiona cohort.