Amber-salamasina Ierome

I am a Elementary Education student at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with a minor in Language Arts. I am studying to be an elementary teacher and am interested working with any age from a kindergarten classroom to the fourth grade level. I grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii where my parents are retired after serving 24 years in the United States Army. I have grown up on an island where diversity is very valued. I have experienced different cultures, and took part in their dances from a young child until now. From a young age, my parents encouraged cultural dancing. This varied from Hula, Tahitian, Samoan dance, and many other Polynesian dances. Being exposed to such passion in the Polynesian culture, I developed my own love for the Polynesian culture. Aside from dancing, I also took measures into getting to know my Samoan culture more through language and traditions. Throughout my four years in high school, I danced and competed at Hawaii's Polynesian Cultural Center's annual We Are Samoa Festival. I became the club's president my senior year and also the main dancer, the princess. I also participated in Hawaii's dedicated cultural week for Samoa and was their princess dancer as well. For my senior project in high school, I decided to continue learning more about my Samoan culture and work with both dancing and language, in which I volunteered as a teacher assistant at Le Fetuao Language School and taught dances for a luau for the special education students. At the language school, I worked with young children from 5 years old to 14 years old. This was one of my first experiences working with young children in a teacher position, in which I absolutely enjoyed.

Aside from a cultural perspective, my family's devotion to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church helped shape my field of study and goals in life. Andrews University is a higher Seventh-Day Adventist education institution. Here, I have been able to grow in the field of service and volunteered working with young children at the local church. Also, being active in the Andrews University South Pacific Islander's Ministry, I have also been able to minister to young children through stories and activities as well. My journey to growing more in my desired job path and grow more academically strong is still on it's way. I strive to make a difference in not only as an aspired elementary teacher, but in my culture and church in any way that I can.