José Carlos Tomé, Alumnus Kapi’olani Community College A journey of discovery

This is Jose Carlos Tome’s story.

While still a teenager in his native Spain, Carlos was inspired by stories of adventure and travel. So, instead of taking a government exam that could have guaranteed him employment for life, he chose a journey that fueled his imagination and his strong desire to see the world.

Carlos joined his sister in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended college. He fell in love, got married and became a successful businessman. Despite his wealth and material accoutrements, he felt his life was empty. He eventually divorced, got out of business, and returned to college in Atlanta.

Subsequent travels took him from Atlanta, to Indonesia, to Miami and to San Diego. Despite the excitement of traveling to different places, he was never satisfied nor comfortable where he lived.

Then, in 1999, Carlos came to Hawai’i because of the climate, the warm water, the easy lifestyle, and the melding of East-West cultures. Although Carlos knew no one, he found jobs here and there including selling solar systems and washing windows. However, no job seemed to appeal to him.

In Spring 2004, Carlos decided to enroll in college for his third time and he enrolled at Kapi’olani Community College. He immediately became absorbed in learning and he later found a connection with teaching. With the help of Dean Louise Pagotto, a linguist, Carlos crafted his bilingual expertise into an independent study course. During three semesters at Kapi’olani CC, he assisted professors in Spanish classes by providing drills in conversation and pronunciation. It is no surprise that his love for teaching and learning led him to major in education.

Carlos maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his four semesters at Kapi’olani CC. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honorary society for two-year colleges, where he made the PTK Dean’s List. He is one of twenty students nationwide who comprises the PTK, “All USA Academic Team.” Representing Hawai’i, he was also named the 2006 New Century Scholar by the American Association of Community Colleges and journeyed to Long Beach, California to receive the two prestigious awards. He is also one of ten students to receive a Presidential Scholarship to attend the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, a full tuition for four semesters, valued at $10,000. And most recently, thanks to the referral by KCC professor Carl Hefner, he was awarded a scholarship from the Freeman Foundation that takes him on a six-week study tour of Asia this summer.

What an incredible journey Carlos has taken to find his calling in Hawai’i. Besides his mother whom he describes as the most influential person in his life, he is also grateful to the faculty who made a difference in his life: from Brian Cassity, he learned the strength that comes from thinking independently. He is indebted to the support he received from the counselors in the TRIO program, and he lacks sufficient superlatives to describe the encouragement and insights he received from Dean Louise Pagotto, and Honors Education advisor, Candy Branson.

Carlos is using his gift of self-discovery to help others know more about themselves.