Day 6 - Prep for College and Beyond!!

For our last day of the Fall 2011 Hawai'i Green Collar Institute we met at Leeward Community with Auli'i Silva, coordinator extraordinaire of Hālau ‘Ike o Pu‘uloa. We were joined by past HGCI participants, both educators and participants learning about where we take our new knowledge about green collar jobs, be it to education or the workforce. First we were joined by  Jeffrey Matsu, Lead Researcher, Hawaii Green Jobs Initiative, State DLIR who presented what the state of Hawai'i's research on green jobs and the services they have to support green job-seekers.

College Planning

Next we had presentations from Sheryl Higa: College Recruiter on “How to Choose a College That’s Just Right For You.” Nicole Keim-Fortuno: Counselor, Developmental English “Seven Things I Wish I Knew When I Started College.”

Wow, there is A LOT to think about; what kind of college am I looking for, what do I need to do to apply to college, what colleges and employers are looking for.

Career Planning

Aulii Silva, Coordinator at Hālau ‘Ike o Pu‘uloa, spoke with us about how to jump starting your “Green Career” during college. Finding a mentor, be it in school, through a program, any one of the HGCI staff, is a crucial component to success. I was surprised to find out how much opportunity there is for grants and funding for school. Layering funding from different entities, federal, private, work study, etc. College IS possible!!

After a full morning, we feasted on a delicious lunch prepared by Mark Ka'aha'aina. We were lucky to have Leeward CC Students in Green Degree Programs candidly speak with us about their experiences in school from what the favorite and least favorite classes (I liked that Kalani's were both physics), how they afford school, and more. We wish we had even more time to talk with them.  

Mahalo to all the speakers today, who helped us learn more about "the next steps," speakers all week who introduced us to new green collar job opportunities, and the wonderful students who spent their fall intersession with us. We look forward to seeing everyone in upcoming events and HGCI reunions!!