From UH Mānoa to Military Leadership: A Journey of Service and Success
First off, introduce yourself, your UH experience, and your current job.
My name is Fiorella Esafe. I earned my bachelor’s in social work from UH Manoa in 2012. Prior to my graduation, I was in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program and my core classes were in Social Work. I am currently an Army Guard Reserve officer and assigned to Human Resources Command as a Medical Talent Manager for the U.S. Army.
The Gen. Douglas MacArthur Award is a prestigious honor for those who demonstrate exceptional leadership. What does it mean to be a recipient of this award?
It means a lot. It is truly an honor to represent the Army Reserve and AMEDD. I am so grateful to be recognized for something that I do from the heart, which is [to] take care of Soldiers. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.
Describe your journey from Peru to America and what led you to Hawai‘i.
When I first came to America, I came by myself at the age 17 to practice my English and for a better life. I held several jobs, and little did I know at the time that my entire family would immigrate as well to join me. It was as if they knew I was not going to go back to Peru for a while. I always wanted to live in Hawai’i because of the beautiful beaches and the UH ROTC program’s scholarship made that a reality for me.
How did scholarships impact your UH experience? Would you encourage students to explore scholarship opportunities?
As a single mother of three, my mother was not able to help me further my education. I sought out an opportunity to further my education at UH. I found the curriculum which suited me and my desire to pursue a bachelor’s in social work. I wanted to help others, and when the ROTC program offered me a scholarship at UH, I jumped at the chance. I would encourage more students to try ROTC, you can try it with no obligation for your first two years. I was very shy when I first began college, and the program really helped me come out of my shell. Additionally, by earning a scholarship, I was able to focus on my education and not worry about paying for my tuition.
Was there an incident/experience during your time at UH that helps you in your job today?
Yes, when I was taking the classes with Dr. Kaleo Patterson, he was always so helpful and understanding. He truly embraced the aloha spirit which I still carry in my career today. He was always ready to help, mentor, and take care of Soldiers like me while taking his classes. COL(R) James Barros also played an important role. He is one ROTC instructor that I will always respect because he truly mentors us in our career during class and off class, he introduced us to CrossFit, which is now one of my favorite workouts.
Many current UH students are from other countries. What advice can you give them?
They should use the awesome programs that UH Manoa offers like the writing lab and seek help from tutors. As a foreign-born student, those were the programs that helped me successfully earn my bachelor’s degree and gave me the tools to improve my writing skills. Enjoy your time at the University of Hawaii, I always look back at it as some of the best years of my life, the faculty truly lived the “Aloha Spirit” and made you feel welcome.