COURTESY OF KEALAKEHE HIGH SCHOOL Ten girls from Kealakehe participated in the Teaming for Tomorrow conference in February in Waikiki, partnering with mentors such as former broadcast journalist Ann Botticelli, right.

Program gives girls
a head start on life

Female students from the
Big Island attend workshops
and get to shadow a mentor

Activities help school grow

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By Krysta Plato
Kealakehe High School

On Feb. 17, 10 Kealakehe High School girls, along with their chaperones Virginia Lawson and Jeanne Hartney, flew from the Big Island to Oahu to attend the 14th Teaming for Tomorrow conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. For two days the girls teamed up with 125 other students who shared their desire to explore nontraditional careers.

The conference was separated into three key components. The first was a day filled with workshops designed to help the girls learn how to communicate effectively, write resumes, conduct interviews, plan for college and budget their money. The second component was a banquet where the students met female mentors in a social setting. The final component was a day dedicated to on-the-job training as each young lady followed her mentor into the real world.

When asked what made her decide to get involved with Teaming for Tomorrow, senior Leesa Dias replied: "It's a good experience. I've done it before, and I thought it was really fun."

Counselor Virginia Lawson said: "Teaming for Tomorrow gives young ladies an opportunity and a glimpse into what could be in store for them in the future should they choose to enter the career that they shadow. If not, it lets them know that's not the career suited for them."

Once the Kealakehe group arrived at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, they met the other Teaming for Tomorrow girls and attended seven different workshops throughout the day.

Patricia Gannon said, "After attending Teaming for Tomorrow and the workshops, I was able to further my understanding of how to prepare for college."

After an hour-long break, the girls returned to the ballroom to end the first day's conference with a banquet dinner. At the banquet, the KHS representatives met their mentors for the first time. This gave the girls an opportunity to ask their mentors questions to prepare themselves for their next day of career shadowing.

The highlight of the banquet dinner is always the guest speaker. Seventh-year attendee Virginia Lawson said: "One of the major benefits of Teaming for Tomorrow is the inspiration from the keynote speakers. ... I learn something new each year. What is most exhilarating about the keynote address is that, in the past years, it has been given by people such as former first lady of Hawaii Vicki Cayetano, former president of the FDIC, Donna T. Tanoue, Judge Maria Milks and Gov. Linda Lingle."

This year's keynote speaker was Patrice Tanaka, CEO and creative director of PT & Co., an independent public relations agency in New York. Tanaka spoke to the girls and mentors about the obstacles she had to overcome to make it in New York City.

During her address, Tanaka shared what made her company successful.

"We believe that because work sometimes intrudes upon our employees' personal lives, that we, in turn, should allow their personal lives to sometimes intrude upon their work."

With this in mind, employees have flexible work hours and even a meditation room. These amenities helped employees gain respect for each other and make their working environment better, Tanaka said.

Gannon described Tanaka's talk as "very inspiring."

The second day of the conference started off with an early breakfast before the girls began their day of career shadowing. This is what the girls had been looking forward to as they sat through the previous seven workshops. They were eager to share a day on the job with a career woman and to discover what her workday is like.

"I gained a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful business woman," Bernadeth Farinas said after shadowing Gail Nakama, the vice president of business banking at American Savings.

"Going with Ms. Nakama taught me how stressful the business world can be," Farinas said. "Now I am ready to meet the challenges that wait for me after high school."

Ashley Walker, a first-year participant, said, "I would recommend the conference to any underclassmen girls who are interested in getting a head start on planning for their futures."

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