Where Are They? Meet Kainalu Szewczyk

An Unexpected Journey

I've played sports all of my life and never really had a knack for the academic, but everything changed when a close friend recommended me to join Fellows. I came to interview.

What I didn't expect to see is the wealth of knowledge that my peers held, and how much they cared about our home in Hawaii. Their ability inspired me to elevate myself and stick with the program. That's how I found myself a part of the 2024 Fellows Cohort. The thing I was most proud of us attacking was our final project: the cost of living. I won't lie and say that we made some type of huge impact or solved the issue, but we did good work and took steps forward.

Vanguard, A Must.

When graduating from Fellows, Vanguard didn't seem like just an option but a must. That's how I found myself a part of Vanguard in the summer of 2024 and in the Summer in Hawaiʻi (SiH) cohort this summer.

SiH has been a great learning experience, especially as someone not familiar with an office setting. All internship experiences differ, but with Zippy's I was thrown into the fire, learning and accruing skills as I figured things out. The other aspect of SiH was the Friday sessions with facilitators. We covered various local, national and international concepts, with each week being a challenge to broaden our perspective. We also went on great field trips, meeting with various leaders and figures throughout the island.

Overall, the ecosystem CTL provides for it's Vanguard members is priceless and will provide value for young adults as long as they persist.

Endeavors to Lead

After high school, I decided to further my education at Washington State University, pursuing a major in Management Information System, while minoring in Aging Business Management.

I’ve also been a part of the WSU Club Volleyball Team and the Cougar Crew Rowing Team, where I had the roles of treasurer and captain (corresponding in order).

While I’ve definitely been busy, CTL has been a huge part as to why I not only have the confidence to go on with new endeavors but to attack them with full force, putting myself not only in positions to follow, but to excel and lead as well.  

Sincerely,