Here to Help

Written By Eli Matola

In just three years, John Kane has transitioned from intern to employee at Laupahoehoe Community Charter School. Explicitly, he has progressed from tutor to special education assistant to behavior specialist to part-time teacher to special education counselor. Here, this man of many hats discusses giving back to the community which has given him so much.

Kane graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, a double major in psychology and communications. Since then, he has been employed at the charter school. The alumni received his job through an internship he acquired during his last year of school here in Hilo. Kane says the university proved indispensable to reaching his goals.

“[T]he teachers gave me a really good education,” he stated. “[T]he psychology program taught me how to effectively help people with issues [w]hile the communication program taught me to effectively talk to people … [and] creat[e] effective dialogue that can foster personal growth and development.”

Kane explained the whole reason he got into psychology and education was because of his upbringing. He asserted, “I was lucky to be brought up in a really respectable home, I know other people weren't as lucky. I recognize that, I recognize my duty to give back to the community.”

When asked what his favorite part about his job is, he replied, “[F]inally getting through to the students when teaching. After spending … hours with them in the classroom, you begin to see improvement[;] it means a lot to see that you’re making a difference in the lives of these young adults.”

Kane advises anybody interested in a rewarding and fulfilling job to locate a job in either education or psychology. This fall the alumni will be attending school again to obtain a Master's in Counseling Psychology, while also keeping his job at the school.