Spring 2014 Semester Back in Session

 Welcome students and prospective students!

Right now the Spring 2014 semester has just began. I could feel the energy on Tuesday with all the welcome back festivities. There was a study abroad fair on Fort Street Mall and free bentos (a Japanese style packed lunch plate) were given to students during the lunch hour. The whole downtown campus was packed with students catching up with friends and attending their first day of classes. The student lounge and computer lab were already filling up with students printing out syllabi and getting started with their coursework. This semester I’m taking four classes: two in class, and two online. I like setting up my schedule that way because it allows me time to balance school, work, and military training. I take in- class courses that I know are not my strongest subjects or a class that I need face- to- face guidance. I’m taking both Microeconomics and Information Tools for Business in class. Being that I’m a Marketing Major, both of these classes are required for my prerequisites.

After attending my first class for both of these courses, I am excited and nervous. I didn’t do as well as I wanted to in Macroeconomics last semester but my professor assured all of us that as long as we come to class and engage in discussions, we should be fine. My Information Tools for Business professor was also very informative and assuring of the class. It is basically a class where we learn Microsoft Excel and Access. Although I don’t have a lot of experience with Excel, I know that is a very useful program and many careers require some proficiency with Excel. As far as online classes, I’m taking Literary Utopias and Dystopias, which is a subject I’m highly interested in, being an avid reader and writer. My professor is very knowledgeable and has an impressive list of his own literary work. I’m also taking Marketing 3000 online. Ideally, I would have liked to take that course in class. But with my busy schedule, online works fine. I’ve always been interested in Marketing and took a few business- related courses in high school so I’m confident in taking it online. It is also my first official class in my major so it’s always exciting to be transitioning in to higher- level courses!

One thing I would like to note about HPU’s professors is that they are all very knowledgeable and experienced in their subjects. Although some classes may require a lot of lectures, note- taking, and reading, the professors really do their best at making the coursework relatable. This particular semester, I notice that my classes are increasingly becoming project- based versus simply bookwork and reading. Even though it requires a little more effort, I know that this will only help us students be better in the real work force and/or our own entrepreneurial endeavors.  All in all, I’m very excited and anxious to get the ball rolling this semester. Thank you for reading and I will be back soon!

Spring 2014 Preparation/Winter Break Update

What's up everyone? Well, it's the last week before the Spring semester starts. As much as I could use another week of winter break, I'm ready to get another semester knocked out of the way so I can be closer to obtaining my degree. Like most college students these days, I can't afford to simply party and hang out too much. I believe your 20s should be your "fun" years but it is also the best time to build a strong foundation for your career. So, my break has been spent working at my internship and also part- time at the mall.

The good thing about working in the Marketing Department (which I highly encourage you to look in to if you're in a business related major), is that I get to witness a lot of projects going on in the university. While I can't state some of the official business, I can say that there a lot of exciting things happening at HPU. I'm also excited to start the new semester because I get to meet a lot of  students, alumni, and professors who are working on interesting projects in their respective majors, clubs, research, etc. Part of my job is to look for members in the HPU community who are doing it "big" here at home, in the nation, or even worldwide. I believe those stories need to be told in order to bring the HPU community together and showcase the opportunities and experiences HPU offers; not simply for higher education but as an "Ohana- based" professional network.

Furthermore, Hawaii is such a unique place to further your education. One thing I believe HPU offers is a good location. The Hawaii Loa Campus is situated in Oahu's quiet mountainous and green area, making it a perfect place to study in a relaxed natural environment. The Downtown Campus is situated in the heart of Honolulu, giving students a true perspective of Hawaii's business district. I also can't forget to mention that Fort Street Mall has some of the best food at unbeatable prices! But aside from Hawaii's beauty and "Aloha- spirited" people, there are still a lot of struggles and issues that Hawaii faces. I believe it is important for HPU students to understand their place in Hawaii so that they can learn from it and possibly help the local community in their respective academic fields or back in their hometowns.

Aside from school and work, my winter break has been pretty good. I've spent time with my family and friends and even starting going back to the gym! HPU students also get some membership deals at the YMCA in downtown so it's a great place to relieve some stress and work out. It's also very close to the downtown campus. I hope all of you are having a wonderful break as well and good luck in your next semester!

Student Work Opportunities

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my second blog entry. I am in the middle of winter break, just finished Christmas and New Years. In my two years at HPU, I am glad I finally chose to register early. Now, all I have to worry about is getting my books, which is very easy to do. The associates at the bookstore are very helpful and accommodating. It has gotten even easier to get books because you can order books online from the HPU bookstore, have it shipped to you, or be ready for you to pick up in the store.

In this particular post, I wanted to note about some interesting work opportunities available at HPU. There are a lot of different departments that offer student jobs; including the tutoring center, Sharky’s Cove (one of the student lounges), student tours, etc. In order to work in the Marketing office (which is where I work), you must be qualified for Federal Work Study under FAFSA.

As a college student, trying to support yourself on your own along with living in beautiful but pricey Hawaii, can be really tough sometimes. But with the right attitude and discipline, it is definitely do- able. That’s why I’m very grateful for the opportunities HPU has offered me both academically and in work experience. Earlier in the previous Fall semester, I was struggling to find work that would accommodate my student commuter lifestyle and academic interest. After browsing through some of the Federal Work Study positions available, I found that the Marketing Department had several openings. One of the open positions was the Media Relations Intern position. I emailed the supervisor, scheduled an interview, and before I knew it I was being trained on how to write news articles for the HPU website, take professional- styled photographs, and assisting in managing various HPU social media.

This month marks my third month as the Media Relations Intern and I have already learned so much and gained real- world knowledge in my major. A lot of students work so hard studying and getting good grades (which is what every student should do), but what really sets your resume apart is experience. I’m glad that HPU has been able to offer me that experience and I’m very grateful for that.

Anyway, I hope this once again provided you better insight in to HPU! Thanks for reading. I’ll be back soon. Happy New Year everyone!