The Powerful Impact of A La Pietra Education: Transforming Lives through Financial Aid

Transforming Lives through Financial Aid

November 18th, 2020

La Pietra Days, Fall 2020 | Online exclusive
By Megan Meyer, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

More than 50 years ago, La Pietra-Hawaiʻi School for Girls was founded on the belief that the young women of Hawaii deserved to have a school designed and built especially for them. The school also recognized that the cost of affording a private school education might be prohibitive for some families and their daughters. La Pietra’s long tradition of providing financial aid has made it possible for many deserving girls to pursue their dream of attending the school by keeping a La Pietra education within reach for those families who might not otherwise pursue an independent school education.

Over the last five decades, La Pietra’s robust financial aid program has undoubtedly had the most significant impact on the lives of the countless families and students across the state who received assistance, directly affecting many young women by providing financial access to all that La Pietra has to offer for girls in grades 6 - 12. For many financial aid recipients, the moment these students had the opportunity to step on to La Pietra’s beautiful campus, the trajectory of their lives was forever altered. Within the school’s small, nurturing environment, each of these young women has the opportunity to be seen and thrive, guided by personalized attention; to discover her unique passions and talents; to develop self-confidence and leadership abilities, and to realize her authentic purpose while becoming the best version of herself.

La Pietra’s financial aid program also reflects the school’s on-going, passionate commitment to intentionally create an inclusive school community promoting socioeconomic diversity. A core value at La Pietra is that all students benefit from a school culture and learning environment that cultivates open-mindedness and authentic discourse, real-world connections, collaboration, and critical thinking while capitalizing on the multifaceted experiences, perspectives, and voices of our diverse, all-girls’ school community. La Pietra graduates carry these beliefs and perspectives with them as they embark on their unique journeys in college and beyond, continuing to perpetuate these ideals in their own lives and within the broader community.

During the 2019-2020 school year alone, La Pietra awarded nearly $600,000 in need-based financial aid, assisting approximately 50% of the student body with financial aid support. Additionally, in Spring 2020, the school launched the La Pietra Family Support Fund, an emergency financial aid initiative, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund has enabled the school to provide additional aid to those La Pietra families experiencing unexpected financial challenges because of the global coronavirus pandemic and support their desire to enroll their daughters at La Pietra for 2020-2021.

Funding for La Pietra’s financial aid program is made possible by the generous support of many individual donors, including board members, alumnae, parents, staff, and friends in the community, as well as support from grants, foundations, and other sources. La Pietra does not receive any state or federal funding in support of the school’s financial aid program.

Recently, several La Pietra students and graduates shared their individual stories about their La Pietra journey and how the financial aid support that their families received created opportunities and changed lives. These compelling narratives highlight how La Pietra’s financial aid program impacts not only individual students and families but also advances the school’s commitment to all La Pietra students to cultivate an inclusive, diverse school culture in which all girls are authentically welcomed and embraced.

Kahiau - Values That Shape My Life

“My mom was really confident that La Pietra was the right place for me,” remembers Melissa Kim ‘09. “It must have been her mother’s intuition because she was right. I was raised by a single mom who was raised by a single mom. I am proud of my Samoan heritage. My mother’s maiden name in Samoan literally means “House of Women.” I was raised to really value the role of women. In my family, I was used to the women around me being powerful, and hard workers, so I think coming to La Pietra was a very natural fit for me and a smooth transition.”

Melissa shares, “I came from humble beginnings. I was so fortunate to receive financial aid from the 6th grade all the way through my senior year. My mom wouldn't have been able to do it without the school's financial support. My mother also worked hard so that I could make the most out of my experience at La Pietra. I met some young women who were like me and many who came from very different backgrounds; and we were able to all learn together. Can you imagine being in an environment where you could feel safe, supported, and loved? I think that was the biggest asset at La Pietra--love. You know, the best thing about going to a small school like La Pietra is that you can be somebody, and your teachers and classmates can know you for who you are and not just for your accomplishments...At La Pietra, we were taught that kindness and hard work mattered and it was never about having a certain amount of money. Our goal was to become confident, compassionate young women and community contributors.”

Melissa reflects, “When I received the Kahiau award at La Pietra, which represents the Hawaiian value of selfless giving, I really took it to heart. I looked at it as a commitment that I needed to live up to, not only then, but I continue to model my life after this concept of selfless giving. I firmly believe that if people just cared a little bit more about the next person, our world would be so much better. La Pietra helped me to develop my personal creed, that I want to live my life being kind.”

“For me, being part of La Pietra was like magic. At La Pietra, I grew into my best self. This was part of what led me to my calling to become a public school teacher, a desire to give back to those who may not have the support that I had. As a native Hawaiian myself, I especially wanted to serve our public school students. When I teach my own students, I always try to remember to create a safe, supportive environment for my students where they can best grow, because they deserve it, just as someone felt that I deserved it at La Pietra.” Melissa continues to serve her students at Roosevelt High School as an English teacher and the AVID Coordinator which helps disadvantaged students get to college.

Opening Up Doors and Creating Opportunities for Success

“When I was attending my public elementary school, I had a teacher who pulled my parents aside and recommended that I consider attending a private school for middle and high school. My teacher felt that I needed more challenge, resources, opportunities, and support to help me go further in my education,” remembers Arianna Bow, Class of 2019. She continues, “My parents and I visited several different private schools, but after I got home from my visit to La Pietra, I told my parents that I wouldn’t fill out any more applications because I knew that I wanted to go to La Pietra! The support that my family received from La Pietra’s financial aid program made the possibility of attending the school a reality.”

Arianna continues, “Entering 6th grade, I was originally drawn to La Pietra for pretty superficial reasons. I just loved how the campus looked because it was so beautiful, and everybody seemed really nice. I think having the all-girls environment was really important to me and my development during my time at La Pietra, even though I didn’t think much about it at that time. I feel like the all-girls aspect helped me to feel comfortable more than anything else, just being myself, and feeling like I didn’t have a lot of people to impress. This made La Pietra the right fit for me.”

Arianna shares, “One of the most important things that La Pietra helped me with was to prepare for college. I was successful in receiving two full-ride tuition scholarships for Bowdoin College where I am attending. This was phenomenal and life-changing. I believe that this opportunity would have been entirely impossible without the help that I received from the faculty at La Pietra, my college preparatory classes, and especially Dr. Dolan, my college counselor. Her door was always open to me. To have guidance from adults who had my best interests in mind was invaluable.”

Arianna continues, “I want to express the immense gratitude for the middle and high school experience that I received at La Pietra. Without the support of La Pietra’s financial aid, I wouldn’t have been able to attend La Pietra. It also meant that I had the support of faculty members who knew who I was, and financial aid donors who believed in me. Having the opportunity to attend La Pietra also opened up the doors for me to receive the full scholarship support that I needed to attend college, and I honestly don’t think that this would have been possible if I had not been able to go to La Pietra. The financial assistance that my family received when I was at La Pietra was one of the most important things that could have ever happened for me, and for my education. It made me feel like there were people that cared about me and my success.”

Currently, Arianna’s goal is to pursue a doctorate degree in psychology and then pursue a career to have her own counseling practice in the future. Arianna is hoping to help support others, just as she received support as well. “One reason that I want to pursue a career as a psychologist is that I feel like some of the most powerful change in the world happens at the most individual level. I think that when people get the opportunity to become their best selves, and feel comfortable living an authentic life and pursuing their own health, it is important not only for that individual person but for all the people in their lives. I feel like the change that I want to make in the world, the good I want to do is helping people to become the best version of themselves that they can be.”

Coming Home - A Place Where I Could Truly Become Myself

Sydnie Sambueno, a graduate from the Class of 2019, started at La Pietra in her sophomore year of high school. Prior to starting at La Pietra, she had attended co-ed schools her entire life. Sydnie remembers, “At my old school, It just didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I really wanted to grow as a person and a student, in and out of the classroom, but I just didn’t click with the environment.” She continues, “Then, I came for my shadow day visit at La Pietra, and I immediately felt like I was at home. It was like an unexplainable feeling came over me as I sat in the classroom. The science teacher was having so much fun teaching the subject and engaging everyone in learning. The students were so friendly and welcoming to each other. I was so comfortable in La Pietra’s classroom environment right away.”

Sydnie realized very quickly that there was something special about La Pietra. “In La Pietra’s all-girls’ community, we are all family - it is like a sisterhood. We are all comfortable talking with each other, literally about anything. I made some of my closest friends at La Pietra, and I ended up sharing such deep things about myself - that is just how close we all were, even with the faculty and staff. We formed these bonds and connections very quickly,” reflects Sydnie.

During her years at La Pietra, Sydnie believes that La Pietra helped her to grow as a person and prepared her to have a confident transition to college. “I definitely became much more independent and confident because of La Pietra. One important aspect was the small school environment and the close bonds I formed with my teachers. By my senior year, I noticed how much more confident I felt with myself. I never thought I would have had the guts to talk in front of the entire school and run for student body president. I ended up becoming president and getting involved with so many leadership roles. I think one reason that I was able to develop self-confidence was because of the love and support that I experienced at La Pietra, and I was able to take this confidence with me to college.

Sydnie remembers an ice-breaker activity during a college new student orientation. “Most of the students seemed uncomfortable, but for me, it was easy. La Pietra taught me to be confident and to enjoy meeting new people. I guess I stood out a bit because I was just naturally bubbly and outgoing when meeting new people. Also, because I had developed close relationships with my teachers at La Pietra, I carried that goal to build close connections with my teachers in college as well. I got to know many of my college professors, even in the big lecture classes. It was reassuring to know that they were there for me, especially given how big my college is. I think La Pietra gave me the confidence to form these bonds and take ownership of my academic learning.”

Sydnie believes that her experience at La Pietra has shaped her into the young woman that she is today. She continues, “I am very grateful for the financial aid support that my family received at La Pietra. Private school education is expensive and the support I received helped make it possible for me to experience all that La Pietra had to offer. I am very grateful for all that I learned at La Pietra, and I know that I will take that with me into my future. La Pietra’s community accepts and embraces all parts of each student. Today, many young people find it hard to be themselves. La Pietra was special because I was able to be comfortable in my own skin without feeling judged.”

Sydnie shares that if she could say one thing to the generous supporters of La Pietra’s financial aid program, she would say, “Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of La Pietra’s sisterhood. I look forward to being a Lady Panther for life!” Sydnie will continue her studies next year in Kinesiology at San Diego State University. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate degree to become a physical therapist.