Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 12, 1 December 1990 — Classroom training program success stories [ARTICLE]

Classroom training program success stories

Nancy Dela Cruz When Nancy Dela Cruz graduated from Moloka'i High and Intermediate School in 1989, she had her post-secondary school plans set for the faill semester at Salt Lake Community College in Utah. She was enrolled in the general office training program there, and hoped to become a secretary or office manager. However, after only

about two months of school, a death in her family brought Nancy back home to Moloka'i. Utah was too far away from family and friends. Nancy decided not to return to Utah, but she did not abandon her plans for community college. She eontinued her schooling on Moloka'i.

Coming to Alu Like, Dela Cruz was afforded the opportunity to attend Maui Community College (Moloka'i branch) as a classroom training participant in the office administration and technology program. She also began her hands-on work experience in an office environment as a clerk-typist for the Legal Aide Society of Hawaii. This enabled her to reinforce her classroom knowledge by actual job application. This combination worked out favorably for Nancy. When the Legal Aide Society received funding for another secretarial position, Dela Cruz was hired.

The staff of the Legal Aide office have expressed pleasure in working with Nancy and satisfaction with her performance. Compliments, such as "bright, learns fast, very capable and dependable, does a good job" have been expressed by her employer. She has fit extremely well into the daily ' operations of the office.

Dela Cruz knows that her current position is tenuous for its eonhnuanee depends upon the availability of funds. However, she will make the most of this opportunity by striving to do her best and leam as mueh as she ean. She will continue as a student at Maui Community College, determined to eam her credentials. She knows the value of this accomplishment and its importance for obtaining future career goals. Jackie Freitas Success ean be measured in many ways. For Jackie Freitas, her success brought her to a manager's position at Fiascos, a loeal family restaurant in Hilo. Jackie's first encounter with Alu Like, ine. was in 1981 on O'ahu. She was hired by Alu Like, ine. as a steno-clerk where she

sharpened her office skills. She later moved to the Big Island and was again hired as a career eounselor in the Hawai'i Island Center. This position not only offered Jackie the ehanee to help Native Americans but to also polish her office and managerial skills. She later left Alu Like, affording herself the opportunity to enjoy her family. After this fulfillment, at opportune times, she strategically

secured occupations that would enhanee her skills and provide her possibilities of upward mobility. One of these positions was a cashier and hostess at Fiascos. This move proved to be a valuable one for Jackie as well as Fiascos. John Clark, president of Fiascos, saw the potential in Jackie and agreed to upgrade her. Jackie was later upgraded with the help of Alu Like's Upgrading Program to assistant manager. Jackie has been at Fiascos for about three years and enjoys her work and the challenge it offers.

Lynette Plunkett Lynette Plunkett is a single parent with a determination to support herself and her son. Lynette entered the Alu Like classroom training in May 1989. She enrolled in Maui Community College's general office training program. She was

a very conscientious student and gained enough skills to be hired by the law firm of Ueoka and Ueoka as a receptionist. She is currently on Alu Like's on-the-job training activity and gaining hands-on experience. The people in the firm always have a good word to say about Lynette, and are pleased with her work performance.

Lynette has made some important decisions in her life and in the process learned not to give up and to maintain a positive attitude no matter how insurmountable the obstacles may appear.