Scholarships and Awards

Hello Everyone!

I hope all of you had a good Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day Weekend! The 3- day weekend was definitely needed.  Well, now we’re at about a month and a half in to the semester and it’s nearly almost half- way through! Spring always seems to go by very quickly. School- work has been getting a little bit more challenging as we approach the first round of papers, exams, and projects. However, I’m actually having some fun getting to know my classmates as we work through projects and study together. I have also been getting all my paper work together and contacting professors to write recommendation letters for me for various scholarships; which brings me to this blog’s topic- Scholarships and Awards.

Let’s face it, most of us don’t have excessive college funds and our parents and grandparents are still working to survive. I grew up witnessing my mother struggle through all the hardships of single- parenthood, working two jobs, and she still was able to obtain her college degree (from HPU to be exact, LOL). How ironic right? Anyways, what I’m trying to say is that there is no excuse as to why you cannot pay for school. As I’ve stated, I’m in the military and receive education benefits through Veteran’s Affairs, which help out a lot. But, the military is no easy task and it isn’t for everyone. So, most students rely on government assistance like FAFSA or scholarships and grants.

HPU in particular awards many students based on the information provided in their applications. GPA and academic standing are definitely looked highly upon; but, extra- curricular activities and leadership experience add a lot more to your college application. Personally speaking, I was awarded the O’hana Scholarship due to my academic excellence and well roundedness in high school. I have recently been contacting and visiting the scholarship office frequently to get a head start on applying for scholarships for next school year. I advise all students to start researching scholarships you might be eligible for as soon as you can. That way, you have time to write your personal statement, put together a nice resume, and most importantly, give your professors/mentors time to write letters of recommendation. As you get older, you realize that the people you meet are all part of your social network. Aside from Face Book and online social networks, your professors, coaches, and mentors who have helped you throughout different stages in your life can say a lot about your character and ultimately push your chances at getting scholarships and awards. Schools and businesses will give scholarship money to the students that they feel best fits their candidacy.

Right now, I just sent in applications for two different scholarships and await their decisions. I am nervous but glad that I got those out of the way so I can apply for more. On top of that, I didn’t do as well as I wanted to last semester so this semester I am focusing a lot harder. Hopefully, this will help my chances for scholarships in the future. Don’t ever let money be a barrier to chasing your dreams. If you want something, go out and do whatever is necessary to earn it. Thanks for reading.

My HPU Experience as a Veteran Student

Hello Everyone! This past weekend I had drill training, since I’m in the Army National Guard. So today, I’m still a little tired but ready for another full week. In this blog, I want to talk about my experience as a military student at HPU.

I joined the military right after I graduated high school in 2010. I originally applied and was accepted to HPU prior to enlisting. However, I knew that college was going to be very pricey for me, especially coming from a single- parent household. Therefore, I decided to join the military and was away from home in training for about 8 months. I was able to meet a lot of different people from all over the states and I feel like my military training experience pushed me to grow up a little faster than most of my peers and be more independent.

Upon returning home, in the fall of 2011, I called HPU to see if I had to re- apply to attend the fall semester. Long story short, I didn’t have to reapply and on top of my military education benefits, I was awarded the Ohana Scholarship. As a military student, I believe we come in with very unique experiences. Some of us have already had military careers and/or been deployed and even for younger soldiers like me, we already have been through rigorous physical and mental training. Furthering our college education allows us to pursue our career goals and utilize leadership skills we have gained in the force.

HPU’s military education staff has been nothing but pleasant and extremely helpful in walking me through all the paperwork and legal documentation that needed to be done in order to receive my education benefits. The staff is really knowledgeable and familiar with what needs to be done and I appreciate them very much.

One thing I really like about HPU, especially as a veteran, is that the university offers numerous ways to obtain a degree. You can attend the regular fall/spring semesters, Military Campus Program (an accelerated distance learning program for soldiers who work full time or do not want to attend the regular semesters), as well as the joint ROTC program with the University of Hawaii. On top of that, in the downtown campus military education center, there is a veteran’s lounge where you can study, relax over a snack or cup of coffee, utilize the computers, or even catch a quick episode of your favorite T.V show in between classes. I think that the veteran lounge is one of the best additions that HPU has made in helping veterans get reconnected in school.

All in all, I’m very glad that HPU recognizes the hard work and sacrifices that veterans make. HPU definitely shows respect to its military students and provides all the right avenues to pursue our education and career goals.

Alright folks, I’ll be back soon. Thanks for reading :]

My Two Favorite Classes.

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone had a good Super Bowl weekend! Let me just say that Bruno Mars definitely did a great job during his half- time performance. (He’s from Hawaii fyi, lol.) Anyways, I apologize if I haven’t written in a while but things are starting to get a lot busier with school and work and everything. Well, today starts the fourth week of the Spring semester! I can finally say that I’m adjusting fairly to all my professors’ teaching styles, class material, and homework. At this point, I’m really starting to like my ENG 2201 class (Literary Utopias and Dystopias) as well as my MKTG 3000 class (Principles of Marketing).

First off, I’ve always loved reading and writing. Recently, with movies gaining popularity like the Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and other utopian/dystopian stories, I’ve been more interested in learning about the literary concepts behind these stories. Although this particular class is an elective, I’m very happy with my choice and I’m learning a lot. Being that it is an online course, people tend to think it’s easier than taking it in class or that discussions don’t require much effort. However, our online discussions are very much filled with debate and my classmates are very insightful with their responses to the excerpts and books we read. Currently, we are reading The Giver. We’re only about half- way through but I can already tell that this book is going to be added to my collection of favorites. Without spoiling the plot for you, it is basically a fictional story of a future society where people’s lives are carefully planned by the government. I’m eager to finish the story and read the rest of the assigned books. 

Secondly, my Marketing class is online as well. Marketing is also my major. I chose to study marketing in college because of my heavy involvement in the DECA Marketing Club in high school. From my freshman to senior year, I participated in statewide and nationwide marketing role- play competitions and took many classes geared toward marketing and entrepreneurship. I loved the creative aspect of marketing but also the careful planning that’s involved. I feel like it’s a perfect major for me because I like to be creative but I can also be very meticulous. I believe Marketing offers that mix.

With that said, during these first initial weeks of school, most of my Marketing class work has simply been reading and participating in online discussions. However, we do have a cumulative project coming up that requires us to work with a non- profit organization we are interested in and find the best way to promote their mission and get people to join. This past Friday, my professor hosted a talk/discussion at the Capital One Café in Waikiki. The purpose of the discussion was to act as an opener to our class project. There were about 40+ students from various levels in Marketing (undergraduate and graduate) and we had to discuss the positive and negative aspects of 4 different possible futures of Hawaii. At first I was a little intimidated because I was younger than most of the students, but my group had very insightful dialogue. I like that we were able to meet outside of the usual classroom or online classroom environment. I like that HPU professors provide students with more than just lectures and tests; but a true competency to see the world through different lenses.

Alright everyone, I will be checking in soon! Have a great week!

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!