Student counts on a career as a math teacher

I am writing this letter to thank you for your generosity in funding the Hawaiian Telcom Math & Science Scholarship. I am honored to have been selected for this prestigious award, one which will help me cover the costs of books, supplies, and tuition throughout my college career.

My mother emigrated from the Philippines to Hawaiʻi before I was born, and my father came over before my first birthday. Despite the sheer cost of higher education, it has always been our family’s dream for my younger brother and me to earn a college diploma one day.

For my parents, a college diploma would serve as the gift of the sacrifices they made. For me, a college diploma would allow me to continue pursuing my desire to give back to my community through my work as an educator and the foundation needed to support my aging parents in the future.

Your gift and confidence in me help alleviate my family’s financial concerns and keeps me determined to overcome the challenges that stand in my way as I continue in the final year of my bachelor’s program and eventually head into graduate school. It motivates me to turn my family’s dreams into reality.

I never considered myself as a spectacular math student. As I got older, I noticed how “easy” concepts clicked for my classmates much faster than they did for me. However, the patience, support and engaging nature of my math teachers helped me fall in love with secondary-level math, and I succeeded as a student.

After getting the opportunity to observe classes and student-teach at the elementary, intermediate and high school level through an elective I took during my senior year at Waipahu High School, I discovered my passion for teaching and the field of education. Now, I look forward to following in the footsteps of my former math teachers and helping all of my students realize that they too can succeed in math.

In the future, I look forward to working with Hawai‘i’s leaders of tomorrow and helping other students achieve their goals in the same way you have assisted me. Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful support.