KAPA‘A — Sachi Munoz really wanted to be at the ceremonies, but she just got a second job, said Gordon Doo, instructor for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act About Face program, Monday. Munoz, who started the program and got
KAPA‘A — Sachi Munoz really wanted to be at the ceremonies, but she just got a second job, said Gordon Doo, instructor for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act About Face program, Monday.
Munoz, who started the program and got a job with a farmer growing items for the county’s Sunshine Market program, could not join her classmates at the ARRA graduation but sent a floral arrangement in her stead.
“This is the beginning, not the end,” said Peggy Granda, site manager of the ARRA About Face program. “The response from the community has been great. There were no problems placing students in jobs. The task was to match the students to the job placement.”
Granda said the Monday graduation ceremonies at the Kapa‘a Armory celebrated 20 graduates’ successful completion of a special program that was made possible through stimulus money and administered by the National Guard.
“This was an unique program in that we serviced students from around the island between the ages of 16 to 24,” Granda said.
Many of the students were formerly “at risk,” but program leaders instead focused on the future and encouraged positive thinking.
“The program concentrates on teaching the students a positive attitude and occupational skills,” said Jett Tokita, the program’s employment coordinator. “We worked with various employers in the community to place students, and also did weekly site visits to see the student’s progress in the workplace.”
Doo told the graduates the program served to open doors for them.
“Now, it’s up to you,” Doo told the graduates and their families. “One of the best choices you made was to come in. We’re all positive here, and a positive attitude is something that cannot be taught.”
Granda told the students to break out of the negative sayings of “You’ll never make it,” relaying a tale of how elephants are trained from birth to never leave a small circle.
As elephant trainers use a chain to tether the baby pachyderm to a stake as training, humans are tethered to a stake by listening to the negatives.
“Explore your surroundings, learn a lot and learn to think outside the box,” Granda told the gathering.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. also extended his personal congratulations and encouragement to the gathering of graduates and families.
“You are all surrounded by positives,” Carvalho said. “Thank your parents, grandparents and that someone who thought you were special. Then, go back to the community and do your part to make Kaua‘i the best it can be.”
Carvalho said everyone, himself included, makes mistakes.
“But we look at the mistake and make adjustments,” he said. “The choice you make determines where you’re going.”
In his encouragement, Carvalho relayed the tale of a chicken that adopted an eagle’s egg that rolled into the barnyard, raising the chick like it was her own despite it being bigger and not resembling the other chicks.
One day, the eagle chick spied an adult eagle soaring regally in the sky and sighed, “I want to fly like an eagle.”
Graduates were presented with a “Go Out and Find A Job” toolkit that included their diploma, a prompter on things learned, and other items that would help the job-seeking opportunity easier.
Those successfully completing the ARRA program include Kelsey Alao, Kelsie Asaoka, Clifton Cabinatan, Royce Cornwell, Adam Coyaso, Kenny Fejeder, Vaihira Gantt, Amber Kane, Tresen Lacaden-Bisarra, Kalen Lacaden-Lopes, Matthew Lindsey, Blaze Lopez, Ashley Medeiros, Jiuan Morton, Munoz, Robin Meyers, Jordan Rocha, Timothy Teves, Tyler Troche and Emily Yamamoto.
“You are all eagles,” Carvalho said. “Not chickens. Eagles! Go fly like an eagle.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
