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Makiara Jibas

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Art
  • Foreign Languages

Reading

  • Academic
  • Christianity
  • Bible

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hello and Iakwe As a Marshallese immigrant who grew up in a family trying to raise a future for themselves in Hawaii, I've always appreciated the education that America offers to students like me. There's a saying that my people have in regards to what happened to our homelands, "Men Otemjej Rej Ilo Bein Anij." Translated in English it means "Everything is in the hands of God." Those very words were their answer upon being asked whether America had permission to use their home of Bikini Atoll for their experiments. Unbeknown to them, those experiments would give birth to one of the most powerful nuclear tests ever conducted: "Castle Bravo," which was about a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima Bomb. Since then my people have traveled in and out from our country to America in search of medical help, education, or simply a better life. My family came here to Hawaii for all three reasons. However we do not see our being here as terrible circumstances, granted that what happened to our people had devastating effects, we also recognize the opportunities that America offers. I am currently a sophomore in college, pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. God willing, I will graduate from college and return to my home country to serve my people through the psychological field -- where there is currently no psychologist in the whole nation. Scholarships will help me get through college as it is still uncertain for me due to a lack of finances. According to God's will, these dreams may come to fruition.

Education

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2026

Majors:
  • Psychology, General

Miscellaneous

Majors of interest:
Family Psychology, Art/Art Studies, General, Christian Studies

Career

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Mental Health Care
Dream career goals:
Psychologist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship
Before I came to know God, I simply saw art as a hobby, a thing to do whenever I was bored. The reason for this is that I had no purpose for art in my life. I did not see art as an avenue that I would seriously try to take in the future. Of course, however, years later I learned that God had other plans for me. Long story short, my artistic journey with the Lord began after I gave my life to Christ when I was 16 years old in my senior year of high school. From then on, I began to ask the Lord about what He wanted to do with my life. "Coincidentally" enough, it was in that particular year that I began to delve back into the world of art again -- after years of hiatus. Being the busybody student that I was, this was only because I was looking for an available elective for my last year of high school. It was through that art class that my interest and, dare I say, passion for art reignited. In fact, this passion began to intertwine with my passion for God as well. Throughout my time in that class, whenever I did art projects I would try to base them upon my faith in Jesus as much as possible. I thought that if I was doing art, I might as well do it for the one who created the idea of it. He is the one who created the universe and the world itself after all. If there's anybody who embodies creativity, it would be none other than the Creator Himself. Thus my purpose for art was formed. Glorifying God became my reason for art projects. I eventually realized a desire within myself to look at art more seriously for the glory of Jesus. In essence, I believe that through doing art for God's glory, God will make a positive impact on the world by reaching people with the light of the Gospel and Jesus Christ -- reaching people who feel lost in their lives in the same way that I once was. This will be done not out of my creativity and artistic abilities, but God's Spirit working in and through me. Although I am neither an art major or that advanced in art, I believe that God will be glorified providentially.
Makiara Jibas Student Profile | Bold.org