For someone who once didn¡¯t believe in the power of higher education, Tiare Sabellano-Tsutsui has just earned an impressive academic accolade. The graduating senior in the , who will earn a bachelor¡¯s degree in , was selected as student speaker at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s 2022 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13. Sabellano-Tsutsui remembers how, when she graduated from Pearl City High School in 2011, she went straight to work for seven years.
“After a lifetime of believing I wasn¡¯t good enough for college, I entered before transferring to UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹,” said the 28-year-old Wahiaw¨¡ resident. “I instantly fell in love with higher education.”
More highlights from the commencement ceremonies and our amazing graduates
At UH, Sabellano-Tsutsui became the epitome of an involved student¡ªserving as a tutor, peer mentor, academic coach and teacher assistant. She was an editor for both Kapiʻolani CC and UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ student journals; developed and hosted Zen mindfulness classes via Zoom for Kapiʻolani CC students during COVID-19¡¯s impactful first semester; and worked as a research assistant for faculty in psychology, psychiatry and public health. In addition, she volunteered weekly for the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Prison Education Project¡ªco-teaching positive psychology and developing mindful awareness exercises and lessons for inmates at Â鶹´«Ã½ correctional facilities.
Off campus, she is a black-belt sensei (teacher) in karate; likes to try different sushi restaurants; and keeps fit and agile by practicing traditional Chinese lion dance. She hopes to enjoy a fun summer before joining the master¡¯s program in fall 2022 at the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ . After that, she is determined to earn a PhD in social welfare, then start a non-profit organization or become a university faculty member.
As a commencement student speaker, what is her message to fellow graduates?
“With everything going on in our world, these times call for individuals like us to rise and become the best versions of ourselves for humanity,” said Sabellano-Tsutsui. “May the breath of ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ be always at our backs as we venture forth into this great unknown we call life.”
Sabellano-Tsutsui¡¯s experiences in higher education is an example of UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.
The student speakers for UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s 2022 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14 are Maansi Murty, candidate for bachelor of science in biology, and Genice Tran, candidate for bachelor of education in elementary education. For more on the student speakers, visit the .