Striving for Success

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  Wai’anae, HI
  
  December 3, 2014
  
  Every teenager has something bigger that they aspire towards: a school they want to go to, a person they want to be, or a career they want to have. However, not all of them take action towards their goals. According to Quartz, an online news magazine, only 30% of people end up working in the profession they dreamed of since they were kids. As teenagers grow and change, so do their goals.
  
  “I love science,” said junior Donald Keopuhiwa, “but as time progresses my mind tends to change because I do new things and makes me think what else I want to do.
  
  Waianae High School senior, Sharina Lagrimas, is the complete opposite. “I’m really clear on what I wanna do in life and I have been planning this since I was 7th grade,” she said.
  
  From the start, Sharina had a clear idea of what she wanted to do - become a pediatric nurse. What makes her different, is the fact that she decided to try make her dreams a reality.
  
  Waianae High School offers six different academic pathways where students can take classes that are specific to their future major. Approximately 150 students are enrolled in the Health and Human Services academy. New additions to the program include an internship at the Tripler Army Medical Center and a simulation center at the high school.
  
  The simulation center has nurses come to the high school every Thursday to do demonstrations and simulate a real hospital environment with the students. Allowing the students to experience these situations give them real insight into their future.
  
  “Honestly, it is because all the shadowing I’ve been doing on every Tripler day. The medical internship really helped me throughout the year.”
  
  However, regardless of how many opportunities and programs there are, only one thing can turn a dream into a reality: motivation. Some young adults go with the flow, and others take the initiative to create their own future.
  
  “Teenagers need to have the actions and motivation to access what they really want in life,” Sharina. “It makes us see what’s really out there.”
  
  Sharina’s advanced involvement with her field is only furthering her progress towards her goal. Having the Health and Human Services academy is a big help, allowing her to take a step not only towards, but into her future. However, when it all comes down to it, her secret to being driven for success is having goals set in stone.
  
  “What you have to do is get it in your mind, where you wanna go,” she said, “and just do whatever you can to get there.”

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"Seeing students working in the simulation center made me want to start taking action towards what I want to do in the future. I definitely see the advantages."


Cayla Paulo, Reporter

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"I see a lot of open opportunities to the simulation center and I wish there were more programs that helped students pursue the career they want."


Kenny Paresa, Photographer