Spraaang Break Escape on pages 4-5
A Student Publication of the University of Hawai'i • Honolulu Community College • March 2018
Takamatsu breaks tradition By Christopher Garcia
“I view myself as being a good, contributing teacher within the school,” said TJ-Reilly Takamatsu, a HonCC Early Childhood Education (ECE) student. Takamatsuʻs hope is to primarily work in preschools. This is his third semester in the ECE program and his first semester in the “on-hand practicum course”--working at the Keiki Hau'oli Children’s Center. Takamatsu first became interested in ECE as a highschool student at McKinnley High School. He volunteered as a teacherʻs aid
at multiple preschools and for McKinnley High School’s ECE Program. “Initially, it was for an elective, but after doing that class, I really wanted to start working with kids.” Takamatsu shared. “My [high school] friends said, ‘[you] seem to really like caring for children.’” Takamatsu’s parents wanted him to go into college and supported his decision to be in ECE. Both of his parents work in education, with his mother specializes in special needs children and his father teaches biology. Takamatsu said, “The goal that we
Ka Lā photo by Chris Garcia
have is to help children.” At the Keiki Hau'oli Children’s Center, Takamatsu is a teacher to the children. The duties he had in McKinnley’s ECE Program are relatively the same as those at the center. Some of his tasks include maintaining classroom cleanliness and ensuring the keiki participate in scheduled activities. “At first, it felt kind of difficult... to explain to [the keiki] the rules and lessons to where they understood it.” Takamatsu explained. ”Takamatsu initially tried to utilize strategies taught to him by his teachers to teach the keiki; later,
he found that there were “many different strategies to do and use when you start teaching.” Takamatsu learned that teachers can help the parents and keiki outside of teaching, such as giving resources on various subjects and conducting after-school programs. He also learned there are various ECE policies which deal with inclusion and respectful embrace of all ethnicities and cultures.
Takamatsu wants to share “unity within the school and the community, as well.” Continued on Page 6
In the long run... By Fredrene Balanay
Photo courtesy of EP Events
I’ve never been one of those women you find at the gym or jogging down the street. For the longest time, my life has been preoccupied with work and caring for my mom. I would sometimes entertain the idea of going to the gym, but after a double shift of almost twenty hours straight,
the only thing on my mind was usually a nice shower and some rest. After burying my mom last year in 2017, I took some time off to figure out what I wanted to do next. I soon found myself registered for fall semester at HonCC and moving out of my childhood home.
This was also around the time I was diagnosed with kidney disease and decided to take a more aggressive approach to my treatment and healing. I also decided to join an exercise group and class called Team Move Hawai'i. It was during these twice a week sessions that I would take
my body to its limits and beyond. Each evening our trainer would encourage us to continue toward our personal fitness goals and encourage us to make a yearly list of goals to accomplish. To set the tone and example,
Continued on Page 6