BYUH Students Spend Summer Participating in Leadership and Career Conferences
BYU–Hawaii expanded its efforts to prepare students for life after graduation by hosting two summer workshops focused on leadership and career readiness. The Called to Lead workshop offered two days of instruction on practical leadership and discipleship, while the Career Readiness workshop gave students tools and resources to prepare for internships and future careers.
Student Leadership Development
The Called to Lead curriculum, the name being inspired by the missionary anthem "Called to Serve," was created and presented by Elder Richard Seaman, a senior missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purpose of the workshop is to give students a perspective—a lens—on their leadership potential in the next several years.
“For me personally, I get really invigorated knowing that the people who attend this university have been led and brought here specifically for these purposes—to live and lead in their countries,” said Elder Seaman. "It is my belief and my testimony that the Holy Ghost is going to talk to everybody who comes to this class, and they’re going to recognize, ‘Oh yeah, this is why I’m here. This is for me, and I have an important role. The Lord is preparing me for my future.’”
For students like Kristine Galang, the workshop has already provided a new perspective on what it means to lead. Galang, a senior majoring in marketing and supply chain from the Philippines, learned that the principles she develops through her faith and other areas of her life can also shape the way she leads in the workplace and with those around her.
“Before this training, I thought work culture and Church culture were completely different. But I realized that you can bring the two together, and the things you learn in different areas of your life can complement each other and make you a better leader,” Galang shared. "At the end of the day, being a good leader means following Jesus Christ."
Jet Sumiran, a junior majoring in computer science also from the Philippines, shared his new understanding of what it means to be a leader:
“I realized that leadership is about influence. It’s not about having a higher position and simply telling people what to do. It’s about setting a good example, teaching others, and nurturing the people around you," Sumiran explained. " I learned that leadership can happen anywhere—in the workplace, at Church, at school, at home, or even in my personal life. For me, I think I’ll be applying many of these principles in my personal life."
Sumiran continued by saying that being a leader means that you're able to balance between being firm and nurturing. Meaning that you need to set boundaries and maintain professionalism. In other words, being bold but not overbearing.
Student Career Readiness
While Called to Lead helped students develop their leadership skills, the Career Readiness workshop dove into a more direct approach to prepare students for their professional future. The workshop, offered for the first time this year, introduced students to Career Services resources — including résumé development, LinkedIn strategy, networking, career assessments and mock interviews — designed to strengthen their job prospects.
Angel Valencia, a junior studying supply chain and analytics and a career workshop specialist with Career Services, said the department is making moves to better keep students informed of the tools they can take advantage of while at BYU–Hawaii to help them obtain internships and careers after graduation.
"We believe these are the things that can help every student prepare to become a professional and achieve the career they want after graduation. Whether they’re looking for an internship or an actual job, having a good résumé and being prepared for interviews can help them get the opportunities they want," Valencia expressed. "We’re not only learning about our courses and our majors, but we’re learning how to be ready and professional before we even become one.”
Becoming the Ones
Through workshops like Called to Lead and the Career Readiness Workshop, BYU–Hawaii continues to provide students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership, build professional skills, and grow in confidence. By investing in both the personal and professional development of its students, the university seeks to help them become prepared, capable, and Christ-centered leaders in their communities.
