In relocating my family from Japan to Hawaiʻi, we essentially abandoned much of what we had known and loved. My dad left behind a job with stability, our community, our close friends, and me – someone who could hardly speak English. To say that it was difficult trying to learn in environments that I did not understand is an understatement, especially since at times I felt isolated due to my inability to communicate effectively. What those moments did teach me though was the importance of perseverance and of people investing in other people. Education will help me fulfill my goals in the future because it provides me with everything that I need in order to serve society via healthcare and education. Education does not only consist of a degree but, rather, is an approach towards making a difference. I plan to pursue my higher education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I will be able to build up my experience in the healthcare field. My college years will give me the necessary insight into the field along with new experiences. The effect of doing things for others has always been evident from the time that I was in high school. As part of my responsibilities as a Head Camp Counselor of ‘Ohana Camps, I mentored younger children and made sure that we had an environment where everyone feels included. I have also been involved in many leadership roles in school, wherein I realized that being a leader is never about getting your own glory; it is all about making people achieve their potentials. Looking into the future, one goal that I am looking forward to accomplishing is positively contributing through my education. Having grown up in the island of Hawaii, I understand some of the difficulties that people in local communities face in terms of lack of resources or inability to seize available opportunities. Through my career, one thing that I want to do is become someone who can offer guidance and lift people up. I want to help people realize that despite where they come from, they have great potential. Going to college is not just another step for me on the educational journey, but rather a means to an end towards accomplishing a bigger goal. The efforts that my family has made for me have taught me that success should not be kept private but shared with the aim of helping other people. My plan is not only to achieve good things for myself through higher education but for other people as well.

Financial literacy and experiences with money for me were mostly acquired from observing my family through their sacrifices, and not through classroom teachings. My family sacrificed everything they had in order to serve the community through ministry when they decided to move from Japan to Hawaiʻi. This entailed losing all sorts of financial security in exchange for starting from scratch in an altogether new environment. As I recall, although I was still young at the time, there were lots of risks associated with this change in our lives. From my own experience, financial choices and decisions are never just about money; they extend much farther than that. I have also come to learn during my upbringing that there are people who never get educated on how to handle their finances. Things like budgeting, savings, credit, investments, and financial planning are never covered even when they play a major role in day-to-day life. That is why my curiosity in financial literacy grew along with the understanding of how financial information affects one’s life and future. One of the experiences which helped me gain more insight into the topic of finances was being involved with life insurance. This experience made me realize that financial planning is not all about earning money but also about preparation and protection. I got to know various people and realized that most of them had no access to finance management classes and thus did not even know how to be prepared for the unknown situations. Through my experiences, I have realized that money management creates chances and makes one independent. It enables a person to make decisions without being confined by the lack of knowledge. In the course of proceeding with my studies, I would like to gain more knowledge concerning financial management since this is something that affects all stages of my life. In return, I will utilize the skills and information gained from this class and use it to improve my own future in a number of ways. Firstly, I want to ensure I establish a solid base for myself through good money management techniques, which means managing my finances well enough to live within my means and to avoid debts that will get in the way of achieving my long-term goals. Secondly, I would like to use what I know about finance to contribute to the welfare of my family and thank those who supported me along the way. Finally, I plan to share this knowledge with others in order to provide an opportunity to them as well. Learning how to manage one’s finances should not be a privilege reserved only for a certain group of people.

My experience of being brought up in Hawaii island has greatly impacted who I am today, the values I hold, and what I hope to od in the future. However, my relocation from Japan to Hawaii took place when I was very young. Born In japan, I grew up in a comofortable and a familiar environment where I enjoyed the company of my friends. The career of my father provided us with financial security. Nevertheless, for reasons of serving God, my family chose to sacrifice everything they had and leave Japan to join in the work on ministry and community service in Hawaii. The adaptation process was tough. Perhaps one of the hardest challenges was the language barrier. Having no knowledge of English whatsoever, I now had to deal with learning an entirely new language, while at the same time coping with changes in culture, education system, and lifestyle. At some points, I certainly felt lost and was unable to communicate with people. Nevertheless, I believe that being in such situations helped me become more persevering. They allowed me to grow accustomed to making adaptations and trying something new, which, ultimately, helped me to move forward. While it was tough, Hawaii Island became my home very quickly. Being from Kailua-Kona meant coming into a community where some of the core beliefs were those of aloha, kuleana, and service. What I witnessed in that community was always having people supporting each other and caring for the elevation of others. These values taught me that success is not only measured by individual achievement but how we affect others. While in high school, I tried to look for ways in which I could give back to the community that accepted my family with open arms. Being an ASB member, camp counselor, and varsity paddling captain made me realize that being a leader is much more than having a position; it means serving others and creating an environment in which everyone feels safe and appreciated. Volunteering and getting involved in activities related to healthcare helped me recognize the importance of giving others chances to succeed. I have a great passion for higher learning because I know it is my stepping stone to serve others and make a difference. I intend to join the University of Hawai'i at Manoa to continue my studies and development in pursuit of a career where I will be able to make a difference in the lives of others. All through, my dream has always been to serve Hawaii with whatever I learn. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to alleviate any financial pressures that come with attending college and concentrate my efforts solely towards education, leadership roles, and growth. Perhaps most significantly, by receiving this scholarship, I will be making an investment not just in my education, but in my promise to remain committed to the state of Hawaiʻi and give back to the community which made me who I am.