{"id":178085,"date":"2023-05-23T14:56:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T00:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=178085"},"modified":"2024-03-15T12:48:48","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T22:48:48","slug":"from-addiction-toxicity-to-honor-society-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/05\/23\/from-addiction-toxicity-to-honor-society-president\/","title":{"rendered":"From addiction, toxicity to honor society president, Honolulu CC<\/abbr> grad\u2019s journey"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Graduate
Camille McComas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(Editor\u2019s note<\/strong>: Honolulu Community College alumna Camille McComas shared these remarks with the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Board of Regents on May 18, 2023.)<\/p>\n

Aloha nui k\u0101kou! I am Camille Kanani McComas and I am honored to share my journey with all of you.<\/p>\n

“I understood myself only after I destroyed myself, and only in the process of fixing myself did I know who I really was.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This quote by Sade Andria Zabala is one that I closely relate to. You see, five years ago if someone were to tell me that I would be standing in front of you all, I would have laughed at the idea. At the time, college was one of the furthest things from my mind. To make a long story short, five years ago, I was lost in a vicious cycle of addiction, toxic relationships and dreadful decision-making. I was unrecognizable to my family and I was not the girl my mother raised me to be. I couldn\u2019t understand it at the time, but the universe had a plan for me.<\/p>\n

It was July 4, 2019 and I found out I was six weeks pregnant. Lost and afraid, I knew that things needed to change and on that day, I found my reason. Life was giving me a second chance and I made a conscious decision to face my demons. Soon after giving birth, I enrolled into college knowing that a college degree would ensure that my new child and I would have a shot at life.<\/p>\n

\"Two
Honolulu CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Karen Lee with Camille McComas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TODAY<\/strong>, I am a product of grace…I have 1,414 days clean. I count my days to remind myself that it took one day to get to two…two to get to three…and so on. God willing, this coming 4th of July, I will make four years.<\/p>\n

TODAY<\/strong>, I am a mother to a beautiful three-year-old named Brooklyn, who attends pre-school here at the Honolulu CC<\/abbr> Keiki Hauʻoli<\/span> Children’s Center. My mama calls her my North Star because she brought me home. She is my reason!<\/p>\n

TODAY<\/strong>, I am present for my family and through my actions they have come to see that I will no longer be absent. They no longer cry tears of sadness, but now cheer so loud for all of my accomplishments. They are my reason!<\/p>\n

TODAY<\/strong>, I am truly fortunate to be embraced by so many beautiful souls who have cheered me on and never stopped believing in me. They are my reason!<\/p>\n

TODAY<\/strong>, I am the president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a student advocate for the Collegiate Recovery Leadership Academy, a 2022 Soroptimist International “Live Your Dream Award” recipient, a 2023 American Association of University Women scholarship recipient, a student assistant in the counseling office where I work with amazing academic advisors, an intern at the John A Burns School of Medicine where I conduct cardiovascular research, a Ola Niuhelewai (student support program) Mauli Ola (well-being) student leader, an entrepreneur, and an active participant of TRIO-[Student Support Services] and, of course, Poʻi<\/span> N\u0101 Nalu (Honolulu CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Native Hawaiian career and technical education program). Through Poʻi<\/span> N\u0101 Nalu, I\u2019ve found my forever home here. They are my reason!<\/p>\n

I repeated the word “TODAY<\/strong>” to convey the significance of what I am given. What I have is a daily reprieve and it is only just for today!<\/p>\n