For Kapiʻolani Community College graduate Malia McCormick, the path to academic success wasn’t a straight line, but a journey of resilience and self-discovery.
After experiencing bullying and mental fatigue in middle school, McCormick transferred to an online high school and faced challenges with executive functioning. Executive functioning refers to skills used to manage everyday tasks, such as planning, time management and organization. She did not graduate from high school until she was 22.
“By the end of my high school journey, I realized I needed to reinvent myself, and that Kapiʻolani CC was my best option for that,” McCormick said. “Attending it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Initially pursuing engineering with plans to transfer to an out-of-state university, McCormick’s time at Kapiʻolani CC became one of personal growth and self understanding. She credits the college with helping her improve her work ethic and overcome longstanding struggles with executive functioning.
Developing grit
“Being surrounded by hard-working students and professors made me look inwards and try to develop the grit they possessed,” said McCormick. “I’m not sure l will ever reach their level, a lot of them are superhuman, but I definitely have a better work ethic than I did when I first started Kapiʻolani CC.”
She also benefitted from having her mother, Arts and Humanities Department Chair Sarah Bremser, on campus, although few professors knew of their connection.
“She essentially was my guidance and helped me map out which courses I still needed to take,”McCormick said.
McCormick graduated from Kapiʻolani CC in May with an associate degree in liberal arts, and is preparing for the next chapter of her academic career, heading to Columbia University to double major in mathematics and film. Looking back on the obstacles she overcame, a simple, powerful philosophy still grounds her.
“Tenacity conquers perfection,” she said.
—By Lisa Yamamoto
