*taken from article
MANY do not know this about Hawaii Senator Bennette Misalucha, but when she was a little girl, all she ever dreamt about was to be a pediatrician when she grew up. It took a heart-to-heart talk with her father that she decided to sacrifice and pursue something else.
Misalucha is the oldest of five children and even if her parents promised to be very supportive should she decide to pursue medicine in the future, the heart-to-heart talk made her realize that her family had limited resources back then.
Misalucha was appointed as a state senator on July 9, 2020 to replace incumbent legislator Senator Breene Harimoto, who died in office.
Misalucha then won during the special election on November 3, 2020 and will be filling the seat until November 7, 2022.
She represents Senate District 16, covering Aiea, Pearl City, Pearl Harbor, and Lower Halawa.
But how did a little girl who initially wanted to be a pediatrician ended up as a senator for the state of Hawaii?
From second grade to first-year high school, Misalucha studied at the Philippine Women’s College in Davao City before moving to Cebu City in 1973. Her family lived in Lanzona Subdivision and later in GSIS Heights, Matina. She vividly remembers herself as a timid girl during those years in Davao City.
“When I was at Women’s, I was painfully shy. But I remember how PWC back then was very strict about speaking and writing properly. I didn’t think about it then but looking back now, I realized I am what I am today because of the wonderful foundation of PWC,” shared Misalucha who graduated salutatorian in high school in Cebu and got a 99+ grade in the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE). Misalucha gives back to PWC as this year’s virtual graduation commencement speaker today, October 23.
In college, she decided to take up Mass Communication to be in one class with a friend. Later on, she decided she’s actually enjoying the course.
“It aligned with my skill set. I’m good at writing and speaking. God, in his definite wisdom, thought I was better there than as a doctor,” shared Misalucha.
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