Torylee Haunani Keiko Castro - UH Hilo Fall 2021 Commencement Celebration Graduate

To whoever reads this,

I hope you do not allow any setback to define you or your goals. I know that life can be difficult at times and can make you ask yourself what is my purpose? You'll even have moments where things don't go as planned, but please do not be so hard on yourself. Give yourself some time to relax, reflect, and enjoy each day. Always remember that you can do anything you want to as long as you believe in yourself. If you do not feel like you can or do not have anyone to support you, I'll believe in you. I may not be someone you know but I've been in your position before and things do change, they do get better. It may take time but if you are willing to challenge yourself, then you can accomplish anything your heart desires.

With love,

Tory.

I have so much memories that I've gained over the years while being at UH Hilo. It is difficult to even say what I believe would be considered my favorite when all of them are. I guess my favorite memory would be meeting Bridget Awong. She is someone I look up to and has watched me grow throughout college. She has seen me go through bad times but never gave up on me. I appreciate her more than you could ever imagine. I will always cherish the moments when my HK family would tease me on how much I act like her. I will never forget hearing them call me mini B or little boss because I hope to be as talented, courageous, and respected as much as she is. She is an inspiration to me and has given me the chance to meet other wonderful people. It is a privilege to meet someone like her.

This little town called Hilo will always be my home and it will always be a special place that shaped me to be the person I am today. I want to thank my family, my friends, and my Hale Kehau/Campus Center Dining family. Without each of you, I would not be able to be where I am today or have the strength to withstand all the hardships of life. I want to thank also every individual that I have met throughout my college experience. Each of you, have encouraged me to achieve my goals, learn from my mistakes, but most importantly allowed me to create new connections that I will never forget. The greatest thing I ever received from college was being able to gain more faith in myself. So, thank you all for believing in me whenever I lost hope. I am forever grateful to have met all of you.