Civic Engagement Experience
I am a Tongan American girl that has parents that immigrated from the South Pacific islands to America in search to a better education and a better life. My father, tried his best to further his education but priories shifted and with a new family, he had to go into the workforce. My father had a dream, to gain a college degree. As my family grew, my father had to work more. Going back to school was no longer an option.
My father always taught us that the way to a better life was gaining an education. Because of the lessons that my family taught me, I knew that education was the way to go. I started working at Salt Lake Community College and was able to see first hand the blessings of education. I was now a TRUE believer.
By building my network at the college, I was able to serve on the Pacific Islander High School Conference. My passion was to show these Pacific Islander High School students that, I know the way and follow me. By serving on this committee I was able to help plan a keynote speaker, workshops, entertainment, secure prizes, swag and have a fun time. I've seen the change in students. I've seen students that attended the Spring conference, sign up for Fall Semester. Change is happening and being part of it has been so rewarding.
We spent months of planning this event and making sure that the workshops and keynote speakers grabbed their attention. We saw success when these students talked to us outside of the conference about going to college. Although we don't have the numbers where we need them to be, slowly we are gaining more enrollment from Pacific Islanders, that alone, is a great reward.
My father always taught us that the way to a better life was gaining an education. Because of the lessons that my family taught me, I knew that education was the way to go. I started working at Salt Lake Community College and was able to see first hand the blessings of education. I was now a TRUE believer.
By building my network at the college, I was able to serve on the Pacific Islander High School Conference. My passion was to show these Pacific Islander High School students that, I know the way and follow me. By serving on this committee I was able to help plan a keynote speaker, workshops, entertainment, secure prizes, swag and have a fun time. I've seen the change in students. I've seen students that attended the Spring conference, sign up for Fall Semester. Change is happening and being part of it has been so rewarding.
We spent months of planning this event and making sure that the workshops and keynote speakers grabbed their attention. We saw success when these students talked to us outside of the conference about going to college. Although we don't have the numbers where we need them to be, slowly we are gaining more enrollment from Pacific Islanders, that alone, is a great reward.
Course Reflection
Did you enjoy this experience and would you do it again? Why or why not?
I did enjoy this experience as it has put me into a realm where I know I can help people. This course has taught me about humans and the different experiences that we went through. The different influences that affected the way we acted, dressed, and treated people.
We need to learn from these experiences and see how people were treated. Learn and grow from these experiences and treat everyone with resepect. One of my favorite quotes I always rely on is, "Be kind to everyone, for everyone is fighting a battle we don't see." We don't know what people are going through. The majority of people are putting on a strong face to get through the day, but when they are alone, some of them breakdown. Let's not add to that. We need to be in the business of building people up and not tearing them down.
I did enjoy this experience as it has put me into a realm where I know I can help people. This course has taught me about humans and the different experiences that we went through. The different influences that affected the way we acted, dressed, and treated people.
We need to learn from these experiences and see how people were treated. Learn and grow from these experiences and treat everyone with resepect. One of my favorite quotes I always rely on is, "Be kind to everyone, for everyone is fighting a battle we don't see." We don't know what people are going through. The majority of people are putting on a strong face to get through the day, but when they are alone, some of them breakdown. Let's not add to that. We need to be in the business of building people up and not tearing them down.