My donors’ generosity impacts my family and my future patients

Raelynn Kiyuna is a student pharmacist at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at UH Hilo. She grew up in Kaimuki and was the valedictorian of Kalani High School’s Class of 2021. She studied biology at UH Mānoa before attending DKICP, where she is her cohort’s council president. She is a recipient of the Hawaiʻi Veterans Memorial Graduate Scholarship. This is an excerpt of her letter to the donors.

I'm sure you have heard this a thousand times over, but your assistance helps out so much more than just myself. My mom, who is a single mother who has to handle both a graduate student and a high school student, has sacrificed so much just so that my little sister and I can live comfortably. One day I hope to be able to give her the life that she deserves and truly give her back all the years of dedication and love that she's given to us.

I've had to take out heavy loans and will likely need to do so for the rest of my educational journey, so your contribution greatly alleviates the burden on my future self as well as on my family.

However, your generosity will not only reach my family, but the patients I will serve both during my education and after it. I hope to represent everyone — whether it be family, friends, professors, donors, or the many people I've met during my life journey — who has helped me along this path by giving back that love to our community and promoting our people's health and wellbeing. Perhaps, in a few years, I might even be your pharmacist!

Once again, I cannot thank you enough for your contribution toward me and my education! I hope you stay safe and well, and I thank you on behalf of all the students you have helped and will help in the future!