Ask a student or faculty member at Brigham Young University – Hawaii what makes the university such an inviting and unique place to study, chances are the answer will resonate in the collegial community found on this campus. The welcoming, accessible, and intimate atmosphere of respect and collaboration here echoes through every classroom, department, and individual. The fervent drive members of the BYUH community share manifests itself in the form of dedicated, progressive, and passionate action. When BYUHSA Vice President Janelle Cabacungan arrived at BYUH, she too soon found her own niche and got involved.
Even before Cabacungan arrived at BYUH, she already felt connected to it. Her older sisters had attended the university and family lived on the island. It felt to be the natural fit. When she settled in, Cabacungan, a native of California, says she already had an idea of what she wanted to do. “I declared my major in political science and plan to go to law school and become a lawyer,” she explains. Though she had her work cut out for her, Cabacungan, now a sophomore in that very major, wanted to become involved with the school outside of the classroom as well. In high school, Cabacungan explains she was involved in many clubs, including acting as president of the Polynesian Club there. “I’m the type of person who wants to participate,” she says, and when then-junior Hema Tatafu approached her and invited her to become his running mate for the presidency of BYUHSA, Cabacungan decided to accept the call.
“I knew BYUHSA would be a great place to start, to really get involved,” Cabacungan remembers, “And I knew it would be the perfect in-between for communication between the students and faculty.” She and Tatafu launched a dedicated campaign and won the vote. In June 2008, Cabacungan became BYUHSA’s new Vice President. Cabacungan immediately launched herself into the work, seeking to increase BYUH unity in all facets of the university. “We do have a voice as students,” she says, “And we really want to bring that understanding to all of the students here to get them personally involved and reaching out to their community.” She oversees several aspects of the BYUHSA organization, including the budget, family life, clubs, and service and learning. When asked how she balances all of her work together? “Well, I don’t have a life,” she laughs with a smile. However, Cabacungan’s selfless activities certainly benefit those around her. Incredibly, Cabacungan, who is also skilled in American Sign Language, works on behalf of the State of Hawaii and as a tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center in addition to her academic and extracurricular commitments. Cabacungan has redefined what it means to really “participate,” giving all she can and serving all those around her, a genuine mindset that seems to grow ever more abundant at this university, truly marking BYUH a golden university.
A gem herself, Cabacungan’s efforts have helped strengthen and unify the BYUH community. She herself feels she has grown tremendously from her opportunities. “This position has forced me to grow and take responsibility for my choices. It can be hard, but it is so worth it,” she recounts. As she pushes herself to achieve more on ever-higher levels, Cabacungan says she hopes to involve as many people as possible to help them do the same. She reflects on the past year saying, “Personally, I really am growing beyond my own imagination. People here look up to us, and there is more unity on campus and in the entire Laie community.” She hopes to take her experiences at BYUH and keep them with her after she graduates and moves on to write the next chapter of her life, including law school and as a lawyer. When asked what she believes is one of the most important qualities she can take with her from BYUH, she says, “To really be motivated. If you want to do something, you can do it; you just have to go for it.”
As a new year begins, Cabacungan looks forward to continuing her service and work. She will remain in office with fellow President Tatafu until June 2009, when a new BYUHSA presidency will take the reigns. Until then, she plans to continue to encourage more involvement and participation of the student-body in its university. She says that she sees tremendous things in the future of the university and its students, Cabacungan says, “I hope that the students continue to come out more and more from their comfort zones, to really open their eyes and expand their own horizons.” Such a vision highlights her own work and will surely be realized thanks in part to her own efforts with the student-body and university community.
Click here to watch Cabacungan's video