The editorial department at The Garden Island newspaper has been lucky to have Kaua‘i High School senior Caitlyn Brock as an intern. While “Senior Spring” inspires typical angst in finally being free from the universe of secondary school, Caitlyn has
The editorial department at The Garden Island newspaper has been lucky to have Kaua‘i High School senior Caitlyn Brock as an intern. While “Senior Spring” inspires typical angst in finally being free from the universe of secondary school, Caitlyn has been a dependable, calm and enormous help to the newsroom.
Tonight, Caitlyn closes one chapter of her life, only to begin another. As with the graduation of hundreds of Kaua‘i’s seniors this year, Caitlyn represents the bright spirit and calm confidence of so many accomplished young community members forging forth into the next stage of life.
Daughter of John and Charla Brock, Caitlyn said, “Family is one of the most important things in my life. I am surrounded by family and we are all very close.”
Caitlyn’s brother Derrek will be coming to her graduation on Friday from O‘ahu where he is currently in school at Honolulu Community College. “I am very excited to see him and plan to spend all day Sunday either at the beach or ATV-ing with him.”
Before Sunday, Caitlyn will be sealing the end of a successful and busy high school career, reflecting on the big changes since arriving at KHS as a freshman four years ago. “I remember my first day at school, I felt so young at the time … four years seemed so long,” Caitlyn said. “But it flew by. It went so fast. Now when I see the freshmen chasing each other around school I wonder if we were like that … so immature.”
Caitlyn has excelled in science and math and plans to major in pharmacology at University of Hawai‘i- Hilo. Her most “memorable and challenging teachers at KHS were Allison Kohlhepp for chemistry and Lane Tokita for psychology. They just pushed me, made me work, it was hard but I did well. Other classes were ‘easy A’s’, and in the long run, the harder teachers are the better ones,” said Caitlyn.
John Brock, Caitlyn’s father, owns JB’s Automotive Repair in Lihu‘e. While most teenage girls might not know the difference between a radiator and a radio, Caitlyn has learned to do simple auto repair including oil changes and fixing her own radiator. “I’m a daddy’s girl. I’m really going to miss him and my whole family when I leave for school. My younger sister Courtney will be starting at Chiefess (Kamakahelei) next year. I worry that I won’t be here for her, as a role model. It’s really easy on Kaua‘i to fall into the wrong crowd, my brother watched out for me, and I want to watch out for her.”
Caitlyn’s mother Charla has family in Hilo, and Caitlyn looks forward to not being too far from familiar faces. “But it’s going to be way different,” she said. “Right now I live next to my immediate family. On all sides there are people I know. It’s going to be different to have strangers for neighbors.”
Caitlyn plans on returning to Kaua‘i after school, “I love it here. It’s so calm…”
Caitlyn traveled to Washington, D.C., with Tokita and other students on the “Close Up” government education program this spring. “We got to visit the Capitol rotunda and debate with students from across the country about political and social issues. It was a lot of fun. But I could never live in D.C. — it’s too cold and too crowded.”
The island girl is ready for the big transition graduating represents. “It’s time to start taking care of myself, being independent … doing things on my own. I’m excited, not scared. I know I can do it and I’m determined to push myself to succeed.”
Caitlyn was involved with several extra-curricular and community oriented activities, including directing the school blood drive. “It was really great,” she said. “We exceeded our participant goal and got to talk on the radio with Ron Wiley.”
When asked if she feel KHS has prepared her for college she said, “Absolutely. But I know it’s going to be much harder. I still plan to get a job … and I’ll be cooking, doing my own laundry. It will be good.”
Three of Caitlyn’s relatives work at The Garden Island: Rita De Silva, Yukie and Moana De Silva are aunts and third cousin respectively. Adam Harju, the editor, said of Caitlyn’s contribution to the paper:
“Caitlyn brings such enthusiasm to the mundane tasks we assign to her such as typing in press releases, entering endless columns of data or typing in the often indecipherable hand-written letters from the reading public. She has the ability to bound into the newsroom and infect the other working-stiffs, I mean staff, with her energy.”
The entire staff congratulates our own newspaper senior on her graduation from Kaua‘i High School, and wishes her all the luck for the future.
• Keya Keita, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kkeita@kauaipubco.com.
