Malia Camero, From the Big Island to Azusa Pacific University

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHERE YOU GREW UP.

I was born on the island of O'ahu and moved to the Island of Hawaii two years later, so while I am not technically from the Big Island, this island has been the only place I have called "home". My father is originally from the island of Lana'i and my mother is originally from California.

Tell us about your educational experience.

From 1st grade to 8th grade, I was enrolled in a public charter school in Waimea. For high school, I applied to and attended Hawai'i Preparatory Academy which is where I graduated from in 2022.

I have now completed my first year of college at Azusa Pacific University as a nursing major and plan to continue for the next three years.

I have always considered myself a good student and often found validation from high performances in my academics. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to continue my education at the next level.

How have you navigated college so far?

Ever since I was younger, I had always been encouraged to continue my education at a higher level past high school. I had a plan to attend college after graduation, but my experience navigating what I wanted to do professionally was much more complex.

The decision of where and what I wanted to study was heavily influenced by my family and community, so it took a lot of patience in order to determine what I wanted to do for myself.

I started my career search with the idea of "wanting to give back to my community". This manifested in many different ways, but I ended up landing on nursing school, which became the factor that influenced which schools I applied to.

I felt that nursing was the right calling for me because of the many different opportunities. I would have to come back to Hawai'i and give back to the community that helped raise me.

What are your thoughts on Pasifika Representation?

Although I have not seen much Pasifika representation in the nursing field, especially at my college in southern California, I do believe that our involvement would greatly improve this field.

What I love about Hawai'i is that so much love and care goes into, not only others in the community, but to the land and culture as well. I believe that that same love and passion could bring so much good to others, no matter what setting one may go in as a nurse.

I do hope that current and future Pacific Islander students pursue nursing as a career because the nursing field needs people who can demonstrate a certain type of love and compassion that Hawai'i helped teach me to give.

ANY achievements you would like to share?

As a senior at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, I received the Spirit of 2012 Award, which was designated to a student who embodied the "Aloha spirit" in a given class.

As a student athlete, I was a part of a team who won the BIIF girl's volleyball championship in 2021. That same year, I also received the honor of being labeled girl's volleyball Division 2 player of the year.

ANY TIPS FOR students applying to college?

One piece of advice I would give to Pacific Islanders interested in nursing is to take every opportunity to improve and get ahead in academics.

Nursing is a challenging career and, especially coming from Hawai'i, where there may not have been as many opportunities as other students in my nursing program, I came into an environment that was much more intense and rigorous than what I had experienced in high school.

Jumping at any opportunities to experience something hands-on or learning from new and experienced teachers can help tremendously when you make such a significant transition.

Any last words to students?

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share my educational experiences with others and to say that I am from the Island of Hawai'i as a nursing student.

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Malia Camero, Building Pasifika Representation in the Nursing Field at Azusa Pacific University