The Future Is Yours
Written by Amber Manini
It was easy to say “When I grow up I want to be a doctor.” As five year olds we had the perfect life planned out. We had big dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, marine biologists, teachers and many other professions we had witnessed the community around us become. Some of our family members looked at us thoughtfully and smiled reminding us to never forget those goals we wanted to achieve. Other of our family members were a little more direct and told us our dreams would change questioning whether or not we really were serious, trying to give us a reality to our dreams. As five year olds, we were sure. We were positive we were going to become doctors, lawyers, teachers and marine biologists. What we didn't realize was just how much work, dedication, schooling, and money it takes to become those people of our big dreams.
As life continued some of us may have changed our minds on our future professions while others are still on the path of becoming doctors. The importance in life is trying your best. Trying to make a difference and achieve your dreams. For many of us, chasing our dreams involves higher education, internships, and work related experience. For many of us it is finding internships and work related experience that is the hardest. We struggle to write our resumes, dress up professionally, getting the guts to go to a job fair, talk to some professionals, and lastly taking the next few steps applying for the internship and following up in the interview process.
To help in this process, UH Hilo Students are offered programs such as the UH Hilo Office of Applied Learning Experiences or commonly known as the ALEX program. Every semester, the ALEX program offers students a series of workshops that include an Internship Fair. These workshops help provide students with the opportunity to receive credit bearing internships from both on campus and local Hilo organizations.
This Fall 2014 events were held during the week of October 27, 2014 to October 30, 2014. During this week span, four events were held during the evenings helping students to prepare for the grand finale, the Fall 2014 Internship Fair held on October 30, 2014. On Monday, October 27, 2014 the event week started with a Resume writing workshop. This workshop helped to give students a basic guide of how to write their resume. Giving them tips on what to expect from employers and leaving students with a manual giving them step by step instructions and sample resumes to go home with.
Representatives from Hilo Bayfront Trails Inc discuss their company and what they expect out of an intern in a short video commercial with reporter, Amber Manini.
The second event was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. This session highlighted the art of interviewing correctly. Gretchen Magnuson Human Resources representative from Hawaii Planing Mill commonly known as HPM Building supply was a guest speaker and shared with students her experiences in human resources both as an interviewee and interviewer. Magnuson advised students to one, “dress for the job that you want not the one that you have” and two, “put your best image forward”. The session taught students how to create their very own thirty second commercial, and even tested their ability to approach others by having them perform their commercial to other students in what could have been similar to a speed dating exercise.
The third workshop located on our hump day of the week was optional to students. On Wednesday, October 29, 2014 students were able to put their best foot forward and take their polished internship ready resumes to the Library Lanai for Academic Advisors and Counselors to review.
UH Hilo Senior, Donald Jobe attended all four events including the grand finale, the Internship Fair. Jobe states, “I wanted to learn more about how to craft a resume and new or better techniques for presenting myself to potential employers.” As a student whoʻs expectations were definitely satisfied by all four events offered he did state how useful the optional resume review was. “I know personally I am very bad at editing my own work. It is much easier to have someone unconnected edit and give either useful insight or feedback about how things are presented,” said Jobe.
UH Hilo Student seeks out more information regarding internship opportunities at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Public Charter School. Photo taken by reporter, Amber Manini.
Students like Jobe came dressed to impress on Thursday evening to the UH Hilo Campus Center Dining hall. Fully equipped with resumes, formal business attire, thirty second elevator pitches, and a handy dandy smile. On the flip side, thirty two participating Hilo organizations were hyped to meet and greet some of what may be their new interns. Organizations such as; Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC), Child and Family Service/The Institute for Family Enrichment, Climate Miles, Destination Hilo, Engineering Partners Incorporated, Target, St. Joseph School, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Tropical Hawaiian Toffees and much more.
Growing up is not the easiest of tasks. It is definitely not for the faint of heart or for the weak minded. However, if there is one thing we can keep in mind is that at one point in our lives, with confidence and a smile we were able to express as children exactly who we wanted to be when we grew up. Although at times the grind of our day to day lives may seem hectic, eventually in the end it all works out for the best. As Jobe says, “Learn to be an advocate for yourself.” Learn to take the next step towards your future.
For more information regarding internships you may visit the UH Hilo ALEX webpage at, http://hilo.hawaii.edu/alex/.
