"…my passion for teaching continues to grow with each new experience and opportunity."

Hometown

Waipahu, Hawai‘i

Department

School of Teacher Education - Elementary

Related Degrees

• BEd, Elementary Education

What activities or organizations are you involved in?
I am the current president for the College of Education Student Association (CESA) and the secretary for the Hawai‘i State Teacher Association – Aspiring Educators program.  I am also a Puahia Peer Mentor.

What does CESA have in store this year?
This year, my fabulous Executive Board members and I aspire to create a College of Education ohana. We hope to engage as many COE students in projects and events related to the National Education Association Student Program’s core values:  teacher quality, political action, and community outreach as well as socials and bonding experiences.

Where do you work?
I have been working in the admissions department at the William S. Richardson School of Law for the past two years. I am also a mentor/ tutor for the Ka Palina No’eau Project on campus.

How did you become interested in the field of education?
As an education intern and tutor for a wonderful program called Brain Station at Kapi‘olani Medical Center, I discovered my passion for education and teaching. From there, I invested my time in educational shadowing and tutoring opportunities. Education is a difficult yet REWARDING field, and my passion for teaching continues to grow with each new experience and opportunity.

Briefly describe your journey to college.
I graduated in 2015 from Pearl City High School, and I entered college as a biochemistry major with dreams of pursuing a career in pediatrics. After having an internship in Child Life Services at Kapi‘olani Medical Center and shadowing pediatricians, I realized that medicine was not for me. After experiences with shadowing and tutoring in an elementary education setting, I discovered my passion for education.

What advice would you give to incoming students considering education as a major?
Know and LOVE your purpose for education and teaching. It is NOT an easy profession, and there will be days when you feel like giving up or like you are not making progress. These are the moments that you need to remind yourself of your “why.”  It helps.

What are your future plans?
After graduating in May 2019, I plan to pursue an International Teaching Master’s Degree; travel the world; hold and hug a koala; and live the dream of teaching, challenging, and empowering our future!