Graduates from the large group of students from the Philippines reflect on their time at BYU–Hawaii and share their experiences and wisdom.
“This semester 31 members of our chapter are graduating. It is the highest number of graduates that our chapter has ever had in one semester. Most of them are graduating with honors and other distinct university awards,” shared Eddieson Cabral, the president of the Philippines Chapter and graduating senior from the Philippines majoring in hospitality and tourism management and human resources.
Blessings of attending BYUH
Dianne Lucillo Cancel, a senior from the Philippines majoring in TESOL education, said the best thing she learned from BYUH is to learn as much as you can and don’t let grades define your efforts. She also learned to love and cooperate with the people around her.
Cancel and her husband are both students, part-time employees, and parents of two. Both of their children were born on the island while they were studying. She said it was challenging, but she learned to prioritize.
Cancel shared, “I prioritize my faith and motherhood over my studies and work. Heavenly Father took care of the rest. Even though my GPA is not as high as I wanted, I got everything I could have from BYUH. The Lord showed me miracles every day, and the Spirit testified to me that my Heavenly Father is proud of me. That is enough for me, and I feel content.”
With Cancel’s thoughts in mind, Neit Lamoglia, a senior from the Philippines majoring in political science, said he is grateful to God for the opportunity to obtain education. He said learning English at a higher level and acquiring skills of how to study hard and properly were the best experiences from BYUH that will help him in his future studies and career.
Lamoglia said before he came to BYUH, he made a covenant with God that if He let him come to BYUH and obtain an education, he would do whatever God asks from him.
At the beginning, Lamoglia was majoring in information technology, but he received a revelation that political science would prepare him to be a stronger instrument in God’s hands, so he changed his major. He is planning to study at a law school and build his family after his graduation. He said, “I don’t know what trials are waiting for me in the future, but I put my trust in God.”
Mary Anne Okimoto, a senior from the Philippines majoring in accounting, said her student years were full of amazing events. “I met and married my husband, and I made many new friends and created lovely memories together with my academic growth.”
Jim Paul Dasalla, a senior from the Philippines majoring in information technology, explained how being 33 years old made it difficult for him to finish his studies back home. “I have to work full time to provide for my family in the Philippines. However, here I was able to study and work at the same time. It was a great blessing. Being a husband, father, studentand employee is hard, but time management and good planning made it possible.”
Learning how to balance her own life with helping others was what Sarah Acobera, a senior from the Philippines double-majoring in psychology and human resources, said she grew to understand. “I prioritized people before my grades. When someone needs my help, I go and help them. But my grades are still great, and I am graduating with magna cum laude.”
Isacarl Cabrera, a senior from the Philippines majoring in information technology, said BYUH gave him a life-defining experience. “Besides my academic growth, building my own family was the most wonderful experience of my life. I came here single, but now I have a wife and my first child.”
Cabral shared that besides his academic growth, he learned how to love the Savior and people around him during his study. “Ever since I came here, my love for the Lord has increased, and I learned to understand people’s different points of view.”
Being a part of the Rice Up program and helping people in the Philippines was the highlight for Paula Putong, a senior from the Philippines majoring in accounting. “Through this service, I developed a deep desire to help others. My deepened desire to serve and the education I obtained will help me to fulfill the mission of the university: ‘Enter to learn and go forth to serve.’”
Lessons from being a student employee
Lamoglia said he met his wife while he was working at the Island Buffet at the Polynesian Cultural Center. He also learned useful skills of customer service including how to serve with his heart to make customers happy.
“Make your stay worthwhile wherever you work,” Lamoglia said. After the Island Buffet, he worked at the IT Department of the PCC for three years. “I learned to share aloha - to care for and understand people around me from my work experiences.”
Okimoto said her first job was a server at the Hale Aloha Luau at the PCC. "It was the very first job I have ever done in my entire life, and it was very hard. After that I worked at the PCC Reservations as a call center agent. Through my student work experiences, I overcame my shyness and became more independent. I developed many useful skills from these jobs.
“Currently, I work in two jobs, [I'm a] part-time accounting teaching assistant and full-time courtesy clerk at Laie Foodland. Studying while working two jobs is tough, but it helps me to be financially independent and grow stronger.”
While Cancel was studying, she worked at the Alumni and Career Services as a career mentor and external relations specialist. She said her jobs helped her to network with many employers and learn important attributes that make her more marketable in the career field.
“Having a humble attitude helps people to get hired in good positions because one of the main things that employers look for in candidates is a humble attitude and willingness to learn from them,” Cancel said.
Cabral was a server at Pounders Restaurant. Later, he became a lead and a trainer intern. He said he gained skills on how to run a restaurant. He learned the importance of hospitality, exceeding guests’ expectations, and flexibility among diverse cultures as he interacted with coworkers and customers.
Putong said she mostly worked at offices as a clerk, cashier, and student accountant. Her student jobs helped her to learn to value work. She said, “It is not common in the Philippines to work and study at the same time. It is hard, but it was doable, and helped me to prepare myself for a real career field.”
Dasalla was a runner and lead at the PCC Concessions, which helped him to be patient and work hard. Currently, he works at ITI Networks, which fixes campus internet connections. “I learned many major-related skills from my student job. It is amazing that we study and cumulate major-related experiences at the same time.”
Cabrera shared he worked at the Pounders Restaurant for three years and became a student supervisor. He learned leadership skills and how to work with people.
“We say that Pounders is the Lord’s restaurant because we directly reported to the First Presidency and had many spiritual preparations to start and conclude work. I saw many miracles in people’s lives through Pounders Restaurant.” Currently, he works as a technical consultant at the IT Department of BYUH.
Acobera worked in many different jobs including a cashier and an assistant finance manager at the PCC Concessions, tour guide at PCC, teaching assistant at BYUH Business Department and a server at Pounders.
“Whatever job you do, give your best and enjoy it. Find skills that will be useful in the future from your student jobs.”
Advice for students
Sharing advice for students, Dasalla advised, “This campus is full of resources that we cannot get from anywhere else. Use them wisely and absorb as much as you can, but never lose your focus from the Lord.”
Cancel encouraged students to avoid comparing themselves with others. “Everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, and unique attributes. At the end of the day, what matters most is what Heavenly Father thinks about you, not other’s opinions about you.”
Okimoto advised students to attend their major-related student clubs and events because they are great opportunities to network with professionals who work in the same field.
Making friends who will uplift people spiritually should be a focus of students, according to Cabrera. “BYUH is a protectivebubble environment. Sometimes, we tend to relax a bit and lose our spiritual habits. Always be mindful of your spiritual health. Praying, reading scriptures, attending the temple every week, and other spiritual habits will help you to succeed as a student and help you build a successful career after your graduation.”
Acobera encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities offered by the school. “Enjoy every moment, but don’t forget your responsibilities. Don’t forget why you are here. Always work to become a better version of yourself every day. God has a reason to allow you to come to this school.
“Do internships. I did two internships in the Philippines and in Seattle, which helped me to discover myself better. Internships also help you to develop useful skills and boost your resume. You will be more marketable in the future.”
Cabral described how student life at BYUH should be centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. “No matter how busy student life can be, know your priorities, regularly pray, study your scriptures, serve others, read your Patriarchal Blessing, go to the temple, even work in the temple if your schedule allows you. I served in the temple almost three years.”
He added taking care of ourselves physically is just as important as spiritually. “Don’t forget to take care of your physical body. Eat three times a day and exercise regularly. Balance temporal and spiritual things. Find opportunities to serve others each day. You will find joy in doing so. Smile and be positive each day of your life.”
Lamoglia said it was also important to be active socially. “Study hard and attend church, clubs, and other activities. Those activities help you to socialize with others, make friends, and build your confidence. Activities are the best place to practice your English as well. Enjoy every moment of your student life and be happy.”