Teddra Kiesel's TRiO SSS Success Story

          

  Aloha, my name is Teddra Kiesel and I am a current student at Windward Community College. I have been at Windward since 2008, and this is where my educational path begun. Yes, my years have been long, but it was not until 2011 I was introduced to TRiO Student Support Services. As a part-time student and a full time team educator for Wholefoods Market; completing school has been a long process for me. However, with TRiO support, I was able to make better class selections, see my academics progress, and now will finally be graduating this coming fall 2013.

            When I first became a TRiO participant, I was introduced to Roy Inouye and from that day on my relationship with TRiO blossomed. He has supported me with financial aid, mentoring, and guidance through my academic career. TRiO services also provided me with one-on-one tutoring, academic guidance, and campus participation programs (i.e. College Career Day, Phi Theta Kappa, etc.) that I found intriguing.

            TRiO has afforded me the many benefits such as: free printing, computers, pens, staplers, folders and anything that will help towards our academic success. They also helped me complete my taxes, scholarship and FASFA applications, which were all sources of great aggravation. Trio’s mentor, Pu’u Zablan helped me complete my taxes with such efficiency, it made me feel like taxes were easy to file, a feeling I’ve never experienced before. TRiO also introduced me to their own scholarship, which I was lucky enough to acquire and pay for my schooling and all my school expenses for two years. Their scholarship assured no stress for me to afford school. I am truly grateful.

            I found many of their services to be very beneficial in my success as a student at WCC. Even more so, they gave me an opportunity to be part of the Hulili program. This program helps insure further success in to Manoa; bringing me one step closer to obtaining my B.A. in education. The mentoring and tutoring TRiO gave me made it that much more comfortable make that transition to Manoa.

            I do believe without TRiOʻs help or support I would not be, the confident and educated student I am today. TRiO has not only touched my life and made my academic path much clearer, it has made school much more enjoyable and became something I started to love. TRiO has become a place I know all to well, where help is offered everyday. A place, where students converse about careers, goals and many opportunities.

I gained a lot at TRiO. I gained knowledge, scholarships, comfort, friends, family, guidance, and the desire to advance higher in school. Not only has TRiO become a facility where we come to do work, but also it has become my own personal favorite place. It was what I chose as my favorite place to write about in my English 100 paper. If it weren’t for TRiO Student Support Services, I wouldn't be where I am today. Mahalo for all the support in making education, a life changing experience that I have come to desire and love.