Personal Narrative
As the doors slid open onto fashion media company Condé Nast’s sleek headquarters, I froze, scanning the room filled with students from New York, London, Paris, and wondering why a girl from a small school on Oʻahu belonged there, let alone being the only one accepted from Hawai'i. To me, this wasn't just the Vogue summer program; it was my one chance to see if I could handle the pace of the fashion business alongside the very best instead of just dreaming of it in my room. My classmates already came into this world with status and last names that I would often read on the cover of a magazine, so for me, each person I met and each room I entered was completely different from my own reality. I knew that I could either quietly hurry to the back row and let their outward confidence fill the room, or I could lean into my discomfort for strength, and prepare myself to represent Hawai'i the way I knew only I could, with aloha.
I was accepted into the Vogue Fashion Summer School in New York City, which was an intensive summer program focused on fashion branding, marketing, and the business of fashion writing. About 500 girls out of hundreds of thousands from around the world were accepted into the program, and they were all determined to succeed. Every day, I went to the Condé Nast offices and worked with the editors and industry professionals. I was given tasks such as analyzing current fashion trends, collaborating on editorial content with the editors, and creating my own mock-up brand and presenting it to the entire student body, as well as the professionals we worked with. This program was extremely competitive and challenging. Being surrounded by students who appeared more prepared forced me to trust my own voice and perspective. On top of the classes, the work at the offices, we also had homework every day and a final presentation in front of everyone, creating a new fashion brand (logistics, sustainability, and the business side) and presenting it to actual designers. Everyone wanted to be the best, and it was hard to be unique in a program where everyone came with the purpose of being the best version of themselves. It kept me on my feet constantly. Also, the majority of the girls lived a very different life from mine, and although I was friends with everyone, I still got comments about my lifestyle. “Why is a girl here … who comes from where I vacation? She is not from the fashion world; she can't even afford it!” After hearing that, all I wanted to do was prove them wrong. Instead of pulling back, I pushed myself to speak up more in discussions and take creative risks. After the two weeks, I was top five in the program, and the instructors wrote in my evaluation: “Keira will undoubtedly be a true asset to the fashion industry. Her dedication, insight, and strong sense of self and professionalism will make her a rising star.” The experiences I gained from the program—the diverse groups of people, the competitive energy, and the hustle and bustle of a place like Condé Nast—were an experience that not only was beneficial to my future, but were lessons I could take to the staff of Sacred Hearts Academy’s news publication, Ka Leo. Returning to Ka Leo helped me realize that leadership is about sharing the knowledge that I learned to better those around me.
Back at the Ka Leo newsroom, I was not only a fourth-year Journalism student but also taking on the role of Editor-In-Chief, and I used all the interpersonal skills I honed at Vogue as lessons (see a link to the presentation here) for our staff reporters. I gave lessons on exuding confidence to strengthen Ka Leo’s brand, as well as accompanied reporters on their first interviews, and helped them find confidence and land bigger stories. As the Editor-In-Chief, I take charge of sections by assigning stories to writers, guiding their reporting and writing, brainstorming creative ideas for special issues, reviewing and editing all content including articles and headlines, while providing kind and constructive peer feedback using methods like TAG (tell them something you like, ask them a question, give them feedback), or compliment sandwiches (give a compliment, critique, then compliment), and fostering a supportive, collaborative culture within the class, while still writing articles as well. Being Editor-In-Chief, as there hasn't been one in a long time, was a challenge, because everyone was not used to the role. Having a leadership role was something I always dreamt of in Journalism, but it also added a lot more to my plate. Also, being a leader in a room packed with brand new staff, some of whom weren’t passionate about writing, was at first challenging. Getting them excited about writing took time, since many started purely so they wouldn't have to do another English course. This pushed me to lead by example, with enthusiasm, and show them how journalism could open doors beyond the classroom. I work to show them the exciting parts of journalism by expressing my love for it, and the many events and opportunities I got from the program.
I also used what I learned at Vogue (see link to blog post here) to do exciting things in my community, such as being a student planning committee member to bring back Journalism Day, which has been on a seven-year hiatus. Journalism Day is an event where students from schools across the island come together at Civil Beat’s Kaimuki newsroom and collaborate while learning more about journalism as a career from industry professionals. I worked closely with journalism advisors, professional journalists, and student leaders across Hawai'i while also contributing to planning the event schedule, organizing workshops, coordinating keynote speakers, and managing event logistics. I also supported outreach and fundraising efforts to ensure the event remained free and accessible to high school journalism students statewide. This experience showed me how journalism can serve communities, not just audiences.
Balancing Editor-In-Chief duties, I organized my heavy course load and personal writing deadlines through batched tasks, which I learned at Vogue. I dedicated my mornings to school work, afternoons to story assignments and editing, and evenings to other extracurriculars such as my personal-related work. Outside of school, I am the Head Public Relations & Outreach Officer for the National Board of See It Through My Eyes, a nonprofit that aids kupuna and keiki, and I also work at a health bar restaurant. I am also a jazz vocalist who has performed at venues such as Blue Note and Capital Modern. Batching tasks allowed me to keep Ka Leo on schedule even through midterms and finals, while I had a lot on my plate. Creating structure and prioritizing what mattered most in my life allowed me to lead more intentionally rather than reactively.
When I started Journalism as a freshman, everyone’s biggest competitor in the Hawai'i State High School Journalism Awards was Hawai'i Baptist Academy. Their newspaper had placed first in the state for nine consecutive years. Also at the time, Ka Leo did not have any leadership roles, as everyone had the role of “Staff Reporter.” This motivated everyone to work hard and grow together.
This pushed me even harder to contribute whatever I could as a freshman. I contributed by submitting a video and a layout for the competition, my very first year. Also, that year, for the first time in over a decade, the Ka Leo staff proudly accepted the first-place award for Best Newspaper in the State Award 2023, over a virtual awards ceremony. Hearing our names announced, the newsroom filled with cheers and laughter, even with a few seniors crying tears of joy. Seeing everyone so excited and feeling truly seen sparked my passion for competition and representing my school. That moment reinforced why journalism matters to me: it brings people together and gives them a shared voice. Truly, it was a win for Sacred Hearts Academy, as all of our hard work proved to be worthy. Journalism felt even more thrilling for me now, but mostly, it felt like I wanted to make my school proud.
Alongside my work in print journalism and also during my freshman year, I expanded my storytelling by starting Sacred Hearts Academy’s first video production club called Lancers Keep it Reel (LKIR). Serving as the president and founder, I helped produce two short films: “Believe It or Not, I Care,” which aired on PBS Hawai'i’s HIKI NŌ program, and “Suel,” which was a short film about helping classmates who are going through a difficult time. I had the opportunity to take on all roles, including the reporter, camera person, editor, and scriptwriter for “Believe It Or Not, I Care.” From the video, I went on to be recognized and win the Student Voice award at the Mental Health of America reception during my freshman year.
Before the start of my junior year, shortly after the horrific Lahaina fires, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu invited me to serve as a student representative for the reopening of Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, Maui. The invitation was based on my first-place breaking news article about the fire when it first occurred. I traveled with a Diocese committee member to document the stories of survivors and highlight the importance of rebuilding and strengthening the community after such a tragedy. This responsibility taught me that journalism requires empathy, accuracy, and care, especially during moments of great loss and devastation.
With the experiences I’ve gained throughout these four years, I hope to inspire younger journalists at Sacred Hearts Academy and eventually serve as a mentor to them. This year, many of the students on my publication staff are new to journalism, so watching them develop their voice and confidence has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also witnessed Ka Leo evolve into a new era, from a publication once on a nine-year losing streak and eager to prove itself to now earning first place for three consecutive years. It has shown me that with focus, dedication, and love, success can grow. I hope to carry that same passion with me wherever I go and to represent Sacred Hearts Academy with pride in every step forward.
