Meet our student board members

Whitney Kim: Listens well to write well

Editor's note: Whitney Kim and Sandra Kim (not related) are our two student board members on the 2002 AAJA Hawaii Chapter board. They represent students interests on the board and help to keep the rest of the board members young. If you are a student, let them know your ideas for chapter events. You can reach them through the University of Hawai'i communications department.

By Sandra Kim
AAJA Hawaii Student Board Member

She's not your average girl.  Actually, she is the antithesis of ordinary - she is extraordinary! 

Whitney Kim, one of AAJA Hawaii's two student board members, is bright when it comes to academics, enthusiastic when it comes to living life and disparaging when it comes to the left the side of her brain.

This is why she chose and fell in love with journalism.

Whitney describes her passion for journalism as a way to answer a single question without being wrong. Although Whitney is undecided about whether she will focus on print or broadcast, she is sure that she made the right decision in selecting journalism as her major. 

Her zeal for writing was demonstrated when she won awards for feature writing as the editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and headline writing as a copy editor for Ka Leo O Hawaii.

Journalism allows Whitney to practice what she said she values the most about writing: the opportunity to express on paper what she cannot always express verbally.  Whitney takes the words she has learned throughout her life and uses them in hopes of conveying something important to others. This is a skill Whitney plans to develop even further.

Beyond her writing skills, Whitney has a knack for listening well, which she considers one of her greatest strengths.  Whitney is always willing to lend an ear to others who simply need a person to talk to.  This works out great because this writer, her co-student board member, loves to chatter and will probably talk both of Whitney's ears off!

Whitney became interested in AAJA when a co-worker and former AAJA student board member, Dara Fukuhara, asked her to take her place on the board.  Whitney saw this as an opportunity to work with members involved in the state's media and could not resist the offer.

Though her studies keep her busy, Whitney finds time to spend with her family and friends as well as work as a waitress. She says she can't help but also make time to read romance novels.

Whitney is the epitome of a well-balanced student who has goals and is ready to achieve them.  She emphasizes the importance of inner beauty, which she says is necessary in making a person appealing to the world.  She exemplifies this in sharing a quote:  "People are like glass-stained windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed from the light within."

Sandra Kim: Television is her goal

By Whitney Kim
AAJA Hawaii Student Board Member

Sandra Kim has come a long way in journalism, especially when one considers that English is the University of Hawai'i student's second language.

Expression can be difficult enough in one's native language, but Sandra exhibits the drive to succeed in journalism despite her early language barrier.

"I always thought of a career where I could, in a sense, show everyone how far I've come," she said. "I think a career in broadcast journalism is an ideal way for me to use all the English skills I've picked up."

Kim also cites her admiration of news anchors' near flawless delivery in her pursuit of a career in journalism.

Kim, who has a double major in political science and journalism, involved herself in AAJA to further develop her interviewing, reporting and writing skills. She reasons that she best way to accomplish this is to surround herself with journalism professionals.

In addition to serving as one of two AAJA Hawaii student board members, Kim interns at KHON Fox 2 and ponders the possibility of becoming Hawaii's female Joe Moore. She also passes time playing the piano, collecting coins, making up simple dances and practicing Korean dance.

The self-described "ham" revels in the idea of one day appearing on television as a successful reporter and anchor.

"I was always the kid in the first row for school shows, and I loved being in front of the camera," she said. "So I think this field is a wonderful (career) choice."