Three seniors reflect on lessons they’ve learned about the importance of communication and creativity when it comes to working together
Working for Ke Alaka'i shaped the lives of three graduating seniors helping them develop communication skills, creativity and confidence while navigating differences and gearing up for the future.
Bringing imagination to reality
Yui Leung, a senior from Hong Kong, said working for Ke Alaka‘i helped him become more creative. He said as a team, they come up with ideas for photoshoots, stories and layouts. The result usually turns out great, he added.
Majoring in visual arts, Leung said, he chose this major because BYUH didn’t offer a degree focused on photography. He said, “I didn’t study visual arts in high school, but I think it helped me become a better photographer. I realized that learning about the foundational elements of art helped with my creativity in photography and videography.”
Leung said Ke Alaka‘i was his first job, and he never left. Finding purpose and love for a job are vital to the experience, he added. “If you don’t like the job, it will be difficult to keep. So, find the joy in the job and just stay,” he added.
Through Ke Alaka‘i, he said he gained connections and had his projects published. His main goals at Ke Alaka‘i were to gain experience, know how to work and communicate with people, and edit and organize photos and videos, he said. “Being here helped me with all of that,” he added.
Everything is about communication, said Leung. “I came to know that [I] need to talk to people. It’s not about just trying to finish the job but because you genuinely want to build relationships as friends and workmates,” he added.
Leung said he tries his best to help when someone needs assistance at work. “I think it’s easy because I know how to prioritize my activities. So when people ask for favors, I’d know whether I can’t or can help because I have my priorities set,” he added.
He said he wanted to be remembered as a person who can help bring people’s imagination to reality. Leung recalled how a simple compliment from one of his past co-workers helped him realize his purpose.
“When I started as a photographer, I didn’t really know what I was doing until Amanda told me I had the best photos for the layout. That’s the time I realized that I might be good at something, and I was able to help the team better,” he added.
Anxious about the future, Leung said reality hits when one is close to graduating. “You suddenly become aware that you are graduating and start worrying about your future. You start to see what matters most. You realize you actually went to college because you want to have a successful career, ” he added.
Where kindness is seen
A senior majoring in graphic design from Japan, Nozomi Miyata said she originally wanted to major in oil painting but switched to graphic design after being impressed by her sister’s friend’s work in graphic design. While studying at BYUH, she said she learned a lot from other cultures here.
Before joining Ke Alaka‘i team this semester, Miyata shared her experience working at Hale Aloha before COVID-19. “Working at the Luau helped me with my English because I had to interact and communicate with people,” she said. She added during her freshman year she was shy because it was difficult for her to understand the different cultures present and share her opinions.
She said she was worried about working for Ke Alaka‘i at first. “I was not confident in my layouts and [having to] design for the magazines.” But after a month, she said working with the other graphic designers and their creativity helped her become motivated to do the same.
She said people in Ke Alaka‘i are nice. “They are so helpful. Especially Moevai [Tefan], she checks on me and asks me how I’m doing with the layouts. [The team] really takes care of me,” she added.
Miyata also acknowledged Jihae Kwon, one of her graphic design professors, for helping her when she struggled in her major. “She made me think about design constantly. For example, when she sees a poster on the street, she analyzes what makes it a good or bad design,” Miyata shared.
A job offer in Japan, Yokohama, is waiting for her when she graduates, said Miyata. “I was also thinking about OPT because I like being here, but I changed my mind because living here is expensive.” She said the company she is going to work for is a small marketing company dealing with cosmetics and clothing.
Everyone is connected
Camille J. Jovenes, a senior majoring in biology from the Philippines, said her perspective on cultural diversity changed while studying at BYUH. “I had to be more open to understand the differences we
all have. We have the same faith, but we grew up differently and have different experiences,” she added. She said she has so much respect for other cultures because she sees how passionate and true they are to their cultures.
Although working at Ke Alaka‘i isn’t related to her major, she said it contributed to her personal growth, Jovenes continued. “It helped
me connect with other people, especially in the office,” she added. She said the skills she gained at Ke Alaka‘i are essential for her future career. “Even though they differ from my major, they are all applicable. My skills as a photographer won’t limit the career I want to pursue,” she added.
Miscommunication in the workplace is easier to resolve when addressed through open discussion, Jovenes said. “I would gladly accept feedback because I know that I am lacking in some aspects of my job or projects,” she added.
Jovenes emphasized the importance of precision with time and scheduling when working with others to maintain balance. “When everyone communicates, it makes managing my time much easier,” she added.
Jovenes shared her plans moving forward. One of her plans is to pursue medicine, she continued. She explained biology as the study of life. “ I want the community to understand that no man is an island. Everything and everyone is connected. I want to effectively be an example, connecting to others because I know that is what the community needs, ” she added.