"In the future, I hope to guide students in connecting history to their own lives and identities, encouraging them to think critically about the world and their role in it."

Hometown

Makaha, Oahu

Department

School of Teacher Education - Secondary

Related Degrees

• BEd, Secondary Education

Why did you choose to pursue to pursue the BEd, Secondary Education program?

I chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis on social studies because I believe it is an extremely important field. I love supporting students and have a passion for studying history, so it made complete sense to earn my teaching license through this program.

My dad was a special education teacher, and he inspired me to advocate for equity in education and to incorporate culture into my curriculum. Through my experiences as a Learning Assistant and Peer Mentor, I’ve learned the importance of building strong relationships with students and creating a supportive learning environment. In the future, I hope to guide students in connecting history to their own lives and identities, encouraging them to think critically about the world and their role in it.

Why did you want to be a Social Media Ambassador for your program?

Aloha COE! I would love to be a part of your Social Ambassador team. I have experience creating Instagram reels, TikToks, and posts through my work growing my profile as a local model. I am also learning social media analytics as a side hobby and know various tips and tricks to increase engagement on posts and stories. When choosing who I collaborate with, I enjoy promoting small businesses, women-owned businesses, and Kanaka-owned businesses. As a plus-sized model, I also advocate for body positivity and see myself contributing to paving the way for more inclusive industry standards.

For this program, I would love to highlight ʻĀina workdays I participate in through my grant program, which is directly connected to the COE. In addition, I see great potential in featuring CESA events, creating engaging day-in-the-life videos, and incorporating current trends to reach a student audience. My goal would be to produce content that feels authentic, relatable, and valuable.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I currently work for the Na Hokua Program at the Center on disability studies under the COE, assisting native Hawaiian students with academic counseling/career preparation. Additionally, I have just obtained my substitute teaching certificate and plan to pursue that as well.