LIHU‘E — Like any high-school senior, Gen Hew had a lot on his mind this time last year.
Hew, 17, was deciding on what colleges to apply for or entering the military. He was balancing the academic demands of advanced-placement classes and preparing for a national science competition. And all of this was happening while all his classes were online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last year was definitely kind of a letdown,” said Hew, who went to Kaua’i High School. “We were all looking forward to being able to go to school or be able to see our teachers for the last year, and then it ended up just being online.”
While Hew attended his classes from his home, he helped to facilitate his autistic second-grade brother’s virtual schooling while their mother worked.
“I would help him get online for his classes. When I was in (my own) classes, he would come in (and ask) me for help. (I would) take time off, help him out, and then go back to my classes,” said Hew.
When it came time to apply for colleges, Hew navigated the process virtually with support from The Bridge: Kaua‘i to College mentor William Dressel.
TBKC is a nonprofit that facilitates one-to-one relationships between students and mentors who advise and encourage them as they prepare for college.
“We talked a lot about what questions Gen needed to discuss with his counsel. We talked about timelines and issues that arose, and what needed to be done,” said Dressel.
Dressel, a retired judge, knows the challenges of entering college. He was the first to graduate college in his family. Hew is hoping to do the same in his family.
Remotely, Hew worked with Dressel, completed his applications, requested recommendations letters by email from his teachers and applied for college.
However, Hew missed one crucial step in the application process. He did not complete his Free Application for Federal Student Aid form in time for fall enrollment at his choice school.
Hew took responsibility for missing the deadline. Last year, keeping up with some obligations felt like a struggle.
“When everything’s online, you don’t have the motivation to complete a task on time,” Hew said. “Boredom and procrastination crept in a lot, not only me, but a lot of (other students) I know too.”
Since the start of the pandemic, undergraduate institutions have seen the steepest enrollment decline in a decade, according to the National Student Clearing House.
Data for fall 2021 enrollment has not yet been published, but as of spring, undergraduate institutions had seen a loss of around 727,000 students. That is a 4.9% drop in just one year.
Hew now plans on attending college next year to study aeronautical science. He’s currently working at the golf course snack bar at the Ocean Course at Hokuala in Lihu‘e, and preparing for next year.
“I’ve always loved the idea of aviation. As a little kid, I always wanted to be a pilot,” Hew said. “I just want to follow my dream to fly in the skies.”
Even though Dressel has since moved to Colorado, he is continuing to mentor Hew with frequent phone calls in hopes that he will eventually cross that bridge to college.
“You’re talking about a young man who has really done a lot in his young life and taken advantage of what Kaua’i High, the bridge and the community offered. He truly is an outstanding young man,” said Dressel.
“I think if COVID hadn’t been, he would have been over at the University of Hawai‘i on a full scholarship, studying and doing well. But now he’s putting together a plan, and there’s no doubt in my mind he will be in college next fall.”
TBKC is currently accepting applications for mentors and mentees. More inforamtion can be found at kauaitocollege.org.
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Laurel Smith, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0424 or lsmith@thegardenisland.com.
