One of my clients that I help out on a regular basis, posted this message on Facebook...

I am not going to post her name just out of respect for privacy issues.... But it helped light up my day that kinda sucked...

JC.

Just thought I'd stop by at 4:52 PM to personally thank you, Jeff, for trying so hard for an hour to help me download my deceased cousin's slideshow on to my hard drive. To you, I'm sure it was just "part of the job," but to me, it spoke far more than just something you HAD to do (and we'll go at it again next week Wednesday--if you're there at ATRC). As a techie myself, nothing's more frustrating than wanting to do something badly but being unable to do it myself without asking for help--especially when the help never comes. Fortunately in this situation, it did--and I have you to thank for it. Never mind the fact that you don't know as much about this and that...Never mind, who cares. I'm not comparing, just grateful for your help! I told my cousin's family, especially his middle sister nicknamed Pnut, what we tried to do and they cried with joy because of the help I got from you. God bless, my bruddah, and have a good one! :-)

It's getting close to graduation time again....

... and I am nervous as heck. I just got a few things to wrap up before that big day arrives... on Sunday, 3 June, 2012.  Here's a paper I had to write for one of my classes that kind of takes you through my journey in school... Why I wanted to get a degree in Social Work. It is mainly because I want to make a difference in someone's life. It doesn't make me any better than anyone else. I just want to make it so I have the credentialing to make it to the next step. My next step? Grad school. That is yet to be determined. However, I have set my eyes on University of Southern California, Los Angeles. I do not know if I will get accepted there. Even if I do get accepted, I will need to find a way to pay for it and support myself throughout that year and a half. But here's what I wrote.. and I hope you enjoy it.... =) Brace yourself, because it is quite long: 7 Pages to be exact.

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My Life Story

I look back on the last 20 years of my life ever since I graduated from high school. June 3, 2012 will make 20 years to the day since I graduated from high school. I graduated from Hawaiian Mission Academy on June 3, 1992 at 16 years old. As the date slowly gets here, I look back to remember what I have done for the last 20 years. Sometimes I feel like I just woke up from a deep sleep and wonder what did I really accomplish. This is a brief version of my story.

Humble Beginnings

My name is Jeffrey Daniel Ah Sam. I was born on Sunday, August 10, 1975. I am the fourth child in a family of six children total. Even though I was born in Pago Pago, AS, I grew up in Los Angeles, San Francisco, CA and Kailua, HI. I was set to graduate from a high school in South San Francisco, but my dad decided to uproot the family and we ended up moving here to Hawai’i in 1991 during the middle of my senior year.

School History

As soon as I graduated from high school, I was given an option to either go to University of Hawai’i (UH) or to go to American Samoa. The last time I have been in Samoa was when I was four years old. I decided I needed to rediscover my roots. So for the next two years, I attended American Samoa Community College (ASCC). I graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in May 1994.

Early Work History

In 1997, I decided to join the workforce. I started working as a customer service representative at Reno Air / American Airlines for the next two years. During that time I took the opportunity to travel since that is one of my passions. I went to places like Miami, St. Thomas, and even to Washington D.C.

I moved back to Hawai’i in 2000 to help take care of my mom who was sick. I ended up working at a travel agency since I had experience working in the airline industry. During this time, I took trips to Australia, Fiji, Japan and Thailand.

Beginnings of a Career Change

In 2007, I had a career change. The travel industry was not as attractive to work in anymore due to the direction it was going. Travel incentives were getting cut. In addition, I was getting bored. I needed some kind of challenge.

One of my friends had a nephew that was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. He came to me and had asked me if I could be like a big brother and help him with simple living skills. So I signed up with Nursefinders. Nursefinders found out that I have an AA degree so they asked me if I would be interested in working with elementary students. At first, I did not want to because I did not feel I would be comfortable doing that kind of job. However, after working my first case, I decided that I liked doing this. As 2008 summer came along, I decided I needed to find another job to supplement my job at Nursefinders. School was out of session and I needed to keep on working. So, I applied at agencies with similar type of jobs. That is how I discovered Care Hawai’i. They assigned me to a residential shelter in Makakilo and Waipahu. That is where I worked for the next two years.

As I worked with Nursefinders and Care Hawai’i, I discovered something inside of me that I have not felt in years. That is the passion of working with others. When I looked back on the types of jobs I had, I discovered they all amounted to one thing – helping others. I also compared my jobs with something I was doing since I was a child, and that was babysitting. I used to babysit my younger sisters. Eventually, I started babysitting my older sibling’s children. Even to this day, I find myself babysitting my cousin’s five children. However, I find that I love kids so it does not bother me one bit that I am with them. So essentially, these jobs I had were just another form of babysitting. I say that because I used to watch over one of my friend’s grandmother. I would feed her, make available her medication, and just play cards with her until her grandson picked her up.

Looking Toward Higher Education

I decided at one point, I would go back to school and see how far up the ladder I can go. I did not want to work hard and find myself at the bottom of the totem pole. I re-enrolled myself at HPU and signed up for their Social Work program. However, the advisor told me that I would be graduating in 2013 being that I was going to school part-time. I did not like that. University of Hawai’i was not an option because they did not offer any type of flexibility in terms of scheduling.

In 2009, I decided to try with the University of Phoenix. My mom just graduated from the school in 2007 and one of my really good friends had also just signed up. I went to the meeting with the advisor, and I was told that I could graduate in 2012. I took a look at the schedule and decided that one night a week, for four hours would work well for me. So I signed my life away.

Enrolling at University of Phoenix turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. At times during the school, I had many ups and downs and there were times I just wanted to give up. However, I told myself, I am almost done and I will give it one more try. At UOP, our BSHS program required us to complete three different field experiences.

Volunteer Experience / Field Experience

Here is a list of my volunteer experiences that I completed while enrolled at UOP. These were part of a requirement I needed to fulfill in order to graduate.

My first internship was at Halawa Correctional Facility. When I first seen this on the list, I was kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I did not know what to expect.

Halawa Correctional Facility, Intern

August 2010 – January 2011

·         I assisted inmates to prepare for a transition from prison to the community. Many inmates were leaving prison so I helped them find resources to half-way houses or find a job.

·         I lead group sessions. Each Tuesday and Thursday, a group session for the mental inmates in Ward C to assist inmates cope with being in prison and how to interact appropriately in a community.

·         My supervisors and I would visit inmates in the Special Holding Unit (SHU). My supervisor would visit each inmate and attempt to find out what the prisoner’s mental status would be like.

For more detail what I did each day, please refer to BSHS 341 Daily Journal.

My second field experience was at Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawai’i. I was very humbug when I could not continue my field experience at the prison. Here is a little of what I did while there.

Assistive Technology Resource Center of Hawai’i, Technology Assistant

March 2011 - present    

·         I trained physically disabled folks on assistive devices and computers. I also used the internet to search for assistive devices that will benefit clients with physical disabilities. I also demonstrated the device for them once they purchased the device.

·         I assisted with instructing computer classes. Many clients wanted to know how to use a computer to email, browse the internet, and how to use different social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

For more detail what I did at this field experience, please see BSHS 411 – Daily Journal. I should also note that as I was getting ready to leave this agency, the boss decided to hire me as a part-time employee where I am today.

Last but not least, is my third and final field experience. This time, I found a  place where I can stay near school and does not require too much travel time.

Partners In Development Foundation, Hui Ho’omalu Program

February 2012 – March 2012    

·         Recruiting potential families at community events

·         Interviewing families who recently were approved to become foster parents / caregivers.

Calling potential families who wanted to become foster parents to make sure fostering children was something they really wanted to do.

·         Organizing client folders

Following up with the clients to make sure they turned in the requirements needed to approve their request.

                                            

For more detail what I did at this field experience, please see BSHS 491 – Daily Journal.

Extracurricular Activities

During the time of being enrolled at school, I heard on the news that there was going to be a casting call for the newly remade Hawai’i 5-0. I decided to take my nephews and nieces with me. I did not think we were going to make it on the show. However, I received a call that I was going to be casted. After one shoot, I decided to see what else I can get into. Off the Map, another television show just started filming. I sent in my information and was called for it.

Other movie and television projects I have worked on include Battleship, Journey to the Center of the Earth 2: Mysterious Island, and Cougar Town. During this time, I met a great deal of wonderful people. I am also a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) union. The only benefit of joining the union is a higher pay rate.

Future Plans

As June 2012 gets closer, I look back and see everything I have done. I seem to be content with everything. There are a few regrets, but life is too short to wallow in that.

My next step is finding a graduate school to work on a Master’s degree. I am not quite sure what I would like to specialize in just yet. I have a few choices about which school I would like to attend. One choice is at University of Southern California (USC). If for some reason USC does not work out, my other option would be HPU. I have not decided yet which field of study I am going to pursue. I know that I will be possibly looking at Counseling or Social Work. No matter which field I choose, I just have to remind myself of my personal mission statement.

Personal Mission Statement

I am committed to educate, motivate, and empower anyone I can to get them on their feet so they may live respectable lives.

I am about helping others succeed. Schools like UOP did what it could to help me succeed. There are countless many others who also did what they could to help me succeed. It is now time for me to pay it forward and help someone else succeed and accomplish their dreams. Most clients will not always want to attend college, or work. Most have the desire to just lead a normal life and to be treated as normal. As long as I can see that smile on their face, that would be a reward enough for me.  

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I do want to say that I was a University of Phoenix student and I am actually glad that I went through this program. I hope that I will be successful in the long run. =)