Where Are They? Meet Southedath (Alex) Chansavat

Coffee = Character

I started my CTL journey going into junior year, as an Ambassador at McKinley High School with Ms. Trisha.

My favorite lesson has been “Coffee = Character” because it was the lesson that made me start reflecting deeply on my own character. It helped me understand the importance of building a strong foundation before entering adulthood and becoming the kind of leader I wanted to be.

A Full Circle

Through CTL, I was given the opportunity to attend the very first EMERGE Camp, and I returned the following year as a senior. Those experiences became important moments in my growth because they helped me build confidence, meet other student leaders, and understand the value of serving my community.

My CTL journey did not end after high school. I joined Vanguard because I wanted to continue staying connected and give back. For the past two years, I have continued to support CTL by volunteering as an EMERGE Camp counselor and a Vision Lab judge.

Rooted in Hawaiʻi, Growing at Mānoa

Currently, I am attending University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, double majoring in psychology and human development and family studies. I am going into my senior year, expecting to graduate in fall 2027. I chose to stay on Island because I couldn’t imagine myself living outside of Hawaiʻi because of my friends and family. I realized that I could still get the education I need while staying close to home. 

While in college, I joined extracurriculars like marching band and concert band. I’ve been in band since elementary and wanted to continue this passion up to college. At the same time, it is where I developed many of my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Being part of a band taught me discipline, time management, and the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.

Sincerely,