If you’re a junior or senior in Hawaiʻi, the ground beneath you is already shifting, and momentum matters.

As artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the global job market, the traditional advice and roadmap — “get good grades, go to college, and wait your turn” — is no longer a sufficient strategy. In an era of accelerating technological change, waiting quietly for one’s turn now carries a high opportunity cost.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a straight-A student.

I cared deeply about school and learning, earning plenty of As and Bs, but my transcript was not a perfect line of 4.0s. That wasn’t due to lack of effort, but rather a deliberate choice to prioritize learning outside of the classroom alongside academics.

My schedule demanded constant balance. My day was spent in class; my afternoons, nights and weekends were filled with Student Government, choir, volleyball practices and internships. That pace forced me to learn time management, accountability and resilience long before any professor handed me a college syllabus.

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Volleyball taught me how to be coachable, adapt quickly and perform as a part of a high-energy team. Student Government and TEDx Seabury Hall taught me how to organize people, speak publicly and lead under pressure. Outside of structured commitments, singing, hiking and spending time with friends and family kept me grounded.

Along the way, I learned an important lesson:

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, GPA alone is often a “blunt signal.” It often measures compliance rather than capability. What truly differentiates an individual today is evidence of sound judgment, adaptability, critical thinking and a track record of follow-through. Real-world grit compounds.

Building A ‘Portfolio Of Proof’

I didn’t stumble into any professional opportunities by accident; I intentionally looked for experiences that would prove I could handle real responsibility, and two internships during my senior year became my training ground.

One was through U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz’s High School Internship Program, which pulled back the curtain on how government actually works — from constituent services to deadlines and accountability. I learned quickly that being “perfect” mattered less than showing up, communicating clearly, getting things done and ultimately learning.

The other was with the Museo De Los Vaqueros in Baja California, Mexico, where I helped produce “Aloha Vaquero,” a traveling museum exhibition highlighting Hawaiʻi’s paniolo history. It was another exposure to professional responsibility in a fast-moving environment — and a lesson in honoring local culture while building something meaningful to share with the rest of the world.

These experiences reinforced yet another simple truth: Credibility is not granted, and can only be built through action.

The Compound Effect Of Early Engagement

When it came time to apply to college and scholarships, I noticed a clear trend. Selection committees were looking for more than just academic data. They cared more about how I had spent my time and what I intended to do next.

For me, receiving the Fukunaga Scholarship was a turning point. Supported by the Servco Foundation and rooted in Hawaiʻi’s business community, the scholarship gave me the freedom to aim higher without the constant stress. I was also selected for Babson College’s Women’s Leadership Program, which connected me with a global network of women using entrepreneurship as a tool for social impact.

None of this happened overnight. These opportunities were built on years of leaning in before anyone was watching.

That pattern continued in college. Similar to my experience in high school, I found that starting early changed my college experience immediately. As we were all still settling into dorm life as college freshmen, I landed a venture capital fellowship with FoundersEdge, a pre-seed fund supporting early-stage founders. Venture capital values initiative and execution over perfect test scores, but my prior experiences helped demonstrate I belonged.

I still experience imposter syndrome, as most of us do. But it gets quieter when you know you’ve earned your seat by doing the work. I’ve learned that it’s perfectly okay to say, “I don’t know yet, but I can figure it out.”

What’s At Stake For Hawaiʻi?

My goal isn’t to leave Hawaiʻi behind. It’s to bring specialized knowledge back home. Hawaiʻi cannot afford a continued “brain drain” simply because meaningful opportunities feel inaccessible here. We need an economy where ambitious students don’t have to choose between opportunity and home.

The pace of change will only accelerate. Today, it’s tools like ChatGPT. Tomorrow, it’s AI embedded in autonomous systems and robotics — changes that will reach our workforce and neighborhoods sooner than we expect. The students who will thrive aren’t just the ones with perfect transcripts, but are the ones who have learned to adapt, lead and take initiative.

A Call To Action

To the classes of 2026 and 2027: make this your New Year’s resolution.

Don’t wait for a perfect report card, don’t wait for permission. Apply for the internship you think you won’t get. Write the scholarship essay that feels like a long shot. Start building proof that you can show up and execute.

The most consequential step you’ll ever take might be the simplest one: raising your hand.