by Linda Kuoha (PCNC)

On Friday February 23 at 2:30 pm Pope School's Express Yourself Drug-Free Career Day began. Our guest speakers sat on the cafeteria stage while the students filed in all wearing their name cards which identified the careers they were interested in pursuing when they grow up.

School staff, students, and parents attended the Career Day. It started with different classes saying drug-free slogans. There were raps, dances, popular tunes turned into slogans: some very creative thinking on the part of the Pope School students. Next, students read drug-free essays that they had written. We were entertained by Kermit the Drug-Free Frog. Then our career guests stood and introduced themselves, told where they worked and what they liked best about their jobs. Sharon Majit-Gorion and John Alamodian brought the program to a close singing O Makalapua and E Hawaii.

Our students returned to their classrooms and had the opportunity to hear from three different guest speakers who talked to them about their drug-free careers and answered questions.

This is the first year Pope School has done a Career Day. Our students knowledge about different occupations is limited. Our goal is to improve career awareness and career dreams among our students. we want our keiki to know they can be anything they want to be, but they need to start by staying DRUG-FREE.

Many of our guests were Pope School parents and community members to whom we say "Mahalo" for sharing with our students:

Jimmy Torres, Waimanalo Teen Center

Paul Kahele, Fireman

Fred Apo, Police Officer

Vanessa Cole, College Computer Instructor

Lance Kaanoi, Self-employed business person

Linda Kuoha, PCNC and waitress

Winston Kong, College Counselor

Manu Mook, College Student

Vanessa Stewart, Susan Page Model

Dave Cosier, Kalaheo Football Coach

Ku'ulei Naeole, Bank of America

Denise Rita, Sea Life Park

Max Ramos, Costco

Shannon Scott, KCCN DJ

Larry Wong, Waimanalo Postmaster