Here comes the judge -

Over the past few weeks, our senior class students at Lahainaluna High School have been presenting their senior projects. This is a requirement for every senior to prepare a project based on a work relationship with a mentor in an occupation or field that the student may want to pursue upon graduation. This mentorship project takes place over a period of weeks or months concluding with a powerpoint/lecture presentation to a panel of judges. I have enjoyed the privilege to be a judge representing the community at large. So far, I have 'judged' over 10 of these projects and I have been very pleased at the work and the quality of the work that has been shared. These students have educated me on many interesting topics, such as fashion design, carpentry, robotics, make-up artistry, education, fitness instruction and retail/small business work. The two presentations on fashion design were actually very good for someone that knows nothing about fashion! The last one that I learned about this morning was on taro, the Hawaiian staple food from which comes poi.
I have been impressed that these students were inspired by their mentors in observing their hard work, dedication, passion, experience and many other aspects of work that may be seldom noticed by the mentors themselves. The seniors truly watched and learned about these jobs with the intention of allowing this project to influence them to pursue their thoughts of a future job or, in some cases, to realize that this occupation is totally wrong for them. I want to encourage you today as you go about your job - let the real you show through your work - you never know who may be watching and how you can inspire them to give their best. We all are influencers in life: either for good or for bad. Let God use you for the good.
Aloha -