Roots: Marshall Islands High School: Waiakea High School, Hilo HI College: University of Portland, OR Major: Social Work Minor: Ethnic Studies and Environmental Policy Status: Senior Pursuing: Bachelor’s Degree Expected Graduation: 2024
Biography
Camille is a Senior at the University of Portland majoring in Social Work and minoring in Ethnic Studies and Environmental Policy. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i until the latter years of her adolescence, which was spent growing up in Hilo, Hawai’i. She graduated valedictorian from Waiākea High School where she was very actively involved. She interned at Kaiser Permanente, played Varsity Softball, Club Volleyball, volunteered in the Hilo Marshallese Community, organized a youth-led volleyball team, while maintaining a social life. In addition to being a full-time college student, Camile works as an Asian and Pacific Islander Youth Advocate to support middle and high-school school students with wrap-around services to promote academic success.
Camille applied for the A+JOJO Scholars Program because it matches her goal in pursuing a higher education which is to give back to the Micronesian community that raised her. She wants to bring the services and experiences of her role as an API Youth Advocate offers to the Micronesian Youth in Hawai’i. Similar to Jojo’s views, Camile writes in her application,
“Micronesian Youth have a unique experience in Hawai’i due to the constant doubt from school staff, racism, and discrimination, and having advocacy from Micronesian adults who have navigated the same circumstances and are able to be culturally sensitive, would have great benefits and wholesomely promote academic success. With support from this scholarship, I’d have less financial stress, which would allow me to focus better on my education and overall, help me reach my goal of supporting our community.”
Camille Alik
Inspiration
Growing up, my parents worked alongside “Uncle Jojo” numerous times. Because I was always with my parents, I had the honor of meeting his kind, uplifting soul. However, I was only aware of Uncle Jojo that never failed to go out of his way to greet me at every meeting, not the one that had done tremendous things for our community. His perseverance and hard work, despite the pain and trauma he had endured is an inspiration. He led such great community advocacy and being that I aspire to do the same, I look to his work as guidance. Something I appreciated greatly was his advocacy for those with disabilities. I especially found value in his word “kich-ability” or “we are ability”. His connection to his native tongue made this all the more personal. As said by Dr. Raatior and inspired by Uncle Jojo, “the true success of us as a community is judged by our ability collectively to care for those in our midst with special and unique needs. As such, we must work hard to ensure that the environment and resources are accessible to ensure everyone’s success”. It’s truly our culture to care for one another and it is important that that care extends and is especially catered to and specialized for those with disabilities to flourish and thrive as well. Uncle Jojo inspires me because he gave voice to the voiceless. His advocacy encouraged us to see past surface-level traits and see people for who they are and who they could be.
Legacy Project
An issue in the Hawai’i Micronesian diaspora is disparity in academic institutions. I feel incredibly passionate about this issue because it is something that I have experienced personally. I aspire to bridge resources to Micronesians to decrease the stress of other aspects of their lives, to allow them to better focus on their academic success. Promoting academic success will make it more likely for our youth to seek higher education and stable careers which will promote economic stability for them and their families, increasing the chances to break the curse of poverty set upon our community. The support of the other aspects of their lives may include financial assistance with groceries, rent, sports equipment, haircuts, and more. Support must expand further than groceries and rent because the other aspects promote self-esteem and the exciting parts of high school that can motivate students to attend school. In addition to all of this, we could provide cultural-specific advocacy for the students to not only promote academic success, but also promote cultural identity. Advocacy would be through Micronesian adults who have navigated similar circumstances of racism and discrimination, which is very common for Mirconesians in HIDOE. Promoting cultural identity is important because sometimes, in order to fit in, Micronesian Youth are forced to compromise it to fit the standards. Overall, I believe that promoting academic success, cultural identity, and in-school advocacy will allow Micronesian excellence and Micronesian pride to co-exist, which aligns well with the legacy that Uncle Jojo has left us.
Camille Alik
Meet the Scholars
Sponsor a Scholar
Roots: Marshall Islands
High School: Waiakea High School, Hilo HI
College: University of Portland, OR
Major: Social Work
Minor: Ethnic Studies and Environmental Policy
Status: Senior
Pursuing: Bachelor’s Degree
Expected Graduation: 2024
Biography
Camille is a Senior at the University of Portland majoring in Social Work and minoring in Ethnic Studies and Environmental Policy. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i until the latter years of her adolescence, which was spent growing up in Hilo, Hawai’i. She graduated valedictorian from Waiākea High School where she was very actively involved. She interned at Kaiser Permanente, played Varsity Softball, Club Volleyball, volunteered in the Hilo Marshallese Community, organized a youth-led volleyball team, while maintaining a social life. In addition to being a full-time college student, Camile works as an Asian and Pacific Islander Youth Advocate to support middle and high-school school students with wrap-around services to promote academic success.
Camille applied for the A+JOJO Scholars Program because it matches her goal in pursuing a higher education which is to give back to the Micronesian community that raised her. She wants to bring the services and experiences of her role as an API Youth Advocate offers to the Micronesian Youth in Hawai’i. Similar to Jojo’s views, Camile writes in her application,
Inspiration
Growing up, my parents worked alongside “Uncle Jojo” numerous times. Because I was always with my parents, I had the honor of meeting his kind, uplifting soul. However, I was only aware of Uncle Jojo that never failed to go out of his way to greet me at every meeting, not the one that had done tremendous things for our community. His perseverance and hard work, despite the pain and trauma he had endured is an inspiration. He led such great community advocacy and being that I aspire to do the same, I look to his work as guidance. Something I appreciated greatly was his advocacy for those with disabilities. I especially found value in his word “kich-ability” or “we are ability”. His connection to his native tongue made this all the more personal. As said by Dr. Raatior and inspired by Uncle Jojo, “the true success of us as a community is judged by our ability collectively to care for those in our midst with special and unique needs. As such, we must work hard to ensure that the environment and resources are accessible to ensure everyone’s success”. It’s truly our culture to care for one another and it is important that that care extends and is especially catered to and specialized for those with disabilities to flourish and thrive as well. Uncle Jojo inspires me because he gave voice to the voiceless. His advocacy encouraged us to see past surface-level traits and see people for who they are and who they could be.
Legacy Project
An issue in the Hawai’i Micronesian diaspora is disparity in academic institutions. I feel incredibly passionate about this issue because it is something that I have experienced personally. I aspire to bridge resources to Micronesians to decrease the stress of other aspects of their lives, to allow them to better focus on their academic success. Promoting academic success will make it more likely for our youth to seek higher education and stable careers which will promote economic stability for them and their families, increasing the chances to break the curse of poverty set upon our community. The support of the other aspects of their lives may include financial assistance with groceries, rent, sports equipment, haircuts, and more. Support must expand further than groceries and rent because the other aspects promote self-esteem and the exciting parts of high school that can motivate students to attend school. In addition to all of this, we could provide cultural-specific advocacy for the students to not only promote academic success, but also promote cultural identity. Advocacy would be through Micronesian adults who have navigated similar circumstances of racism and discrimination, which is very common for Mirconesians in HIDOE. Promoting cultural identity is important because sometimes, in order to fit in, Micronesian Youth are forced to compromise it to fit the standards. Overall, I believe that promoting academic success, cultural identity, and in-school advocacy will allow Micronesian excellence and Micronesian pride to co-exist, which aligns well with the legacy that Uncle Jojo has left us.