Last Friday, March 11, we graduated interns Nick and Eva from the 22nd cohort of our foodservice vocational training program. During the celebration at Kalihi Union Church, they shared about their journey and guests were treated to a special lunch that the graduates prepared.
Below are excerpts of the cohort's speeches:
"When I first got here, I was still kind of stuck looking at my situation as though I was a victim, like, 'Poor Nick. Why is this happening to me? This isn't fair.' It was a really challenged mindset, which I look back now on with a cringeworthy feeling. Colin has really helped me grow tremendously in these six weeks through many debates…but I thank Colin for those debates because he forced me to look at things from another angle and to reassess the way I view my own situation, and from that, I have a broader view of things that I have done and a feeling of accountability for my actions." —Nick
"This is something that for the first time I accomplished fully. Everybody just being so open-hearted and accepting to us has been great because we're all in the same situation in some sort. We all have different cases, but they all understand and we all can connect and it's been a great bond for me. I feel like I have lifetime friends and family. I know if I ever really needed them, I can call on them. And if they ever needed something of me, I will try my best to help give back to this program." —Eva
Nick will be working with us and continuing his job as a meat cutter, both on a part-time basis, until his sentencing. Eva was recently promoted from food and beverage server to restaurant manager at Pearl Country Club after working there for only five months. To date, this is the most significant advancement of any Touch A Heart graduate.
Please join us in congratulating Nick and Eva and wishing them well.
Your Kupuna and Family Meals and Baker's Heart purchases as well as donations directly fund our programs. We thank you for your generosity that transforms lives, one heart at a time.
TOUCH A HEART NEWSLETTER | MARCH 16, 2022 Congratulations, Cohort 22!
