Working first as a club president and then becoming BYUHSA president during this past academic year has given Hemaloto Tatafu (pictured right) the confidence to do things he never thought he would do.
"With these experiences, I have grown in ways no one can imagine," said Tatafu, who talked about his term as president recently and moving on with his life. "I have so much confidence in myself that I feel that I can do anything that I want to achieve. One of these things is to be involved in politics in Tonga."
Tatafu is a senior majoring in political science from Tonga. He first came to BYU–Hawaii in the Spring Term of 2007. He had just got off his mission and said he was excited to attend college.
Upon his arriving here, a friend approached him about helping to form the Rugby Club on campus. Being a freshman and still not confident about himself, Tatafu said his friend asking for him to help start the club showed that someone believed in him. He said his friend having confidence in him made him feel like he could do it.
With his friend's faith and support, Tatafu developed the skills to write a constitution for the Rugby Club and eventually became president of the club on campus.
That was the beginning of his political career, he said. When Fall Semester 2007 came around, he began organizing touch rugby tournaments for the club and other social activities. "This really brought everybody together," he said.
Then when the annual BYUHSA Songfest happened that year, members of the Rugby Club participated, and Tatafu said he saw how the club and BYUHSA activities could unify students. "It was an enjoyable activity," he said with a smile, "especially to witness students from different cultures come together because of the sport they all love."
Later that year when Tatafu saw the BYUSHA election notices, he said he applied to run for BYUHSA president because he had developed confidence in himself. "My experience as a club president helped me know that I was up for the challenge that being BYUHSA president brings," Tatafu said.
Thinking back on his experience as president of BYUSHA, Tatafu said he did not anticipate the amount of the challenge that was coming his way.
"I was a member of other councils, I had callings in church, I had to school, and I was to be married at that same time. It was hard. I tried to keep a balance, but I have to be honest, it was still very challenging," said Tatafu.
But the confidence he gained as Rugby Club president plus working with the other BYUHSA team members helped him fulfill all the responsibilities that came with being president of BYUSHA, he said.
"My responsibility as student body president included overseeing BYUHSA as a whole," he continued. "Luckily, I had a great team that allowed me to work through the challenges that we faced."
One of the things Tatafu said he worked on throughout the course of his term as president of BYUHSA was to have more student participation and interaction. He wanted more students to participate in organizing BYUSHA activities, to participate in university councils, etc. “I wanted to do this because I felt that when students are entrusted with such responsibilities, it will distill confidence in them and allow them to rise up to become the leaders that they are suppose to be,” said Tatafu.
BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright agreed with Tatafu's idea, he said, because Wheelwright also wanted students to be part of university organizing and planning. Wheelwright followed up with his words, Tatafu said, and identified university councils he felt students could attend and gain experience by working with BYU–Hawaii faculty and staff. One of these councils was the University Council, which includes all the directors of departments on campus. (Pictured: Tatafu poses at the Laie Temple Visitors Center near the Christus)
Additionally, Tatafu was invited to attend weekly meetings of the President's Council where all the new policies for the school are discussed. "I was able to voice my opinion as a student and work with those that are responsible for these policies. If I felt that it would not be beneficial for the students, I was also able to pass down this information to my team so I could have their feedback so I can represent the students well," said Tatafu.
He concluded by urging all students to get involved, whether in dances, clubs, organizations, workshops, etc. He believes that involvement and participation in activities on campus will help bring out each person's unique abilities, stating, "It will help you grow your confidence and allow you to achieve your full potential."
--Photos by Ian Nitta and Monique Saenz