As a child in Sweden, Tord “Harald” Ivarsson followed his parents to their respective classrooms and immersed himself in the world of education. Both of his parents were elementary school teachers and are now retired.
“I had a vision of what a teacher can create in the classroom,” said Harald. “Having children explore skills within themselves, I think that’s inspiring,” he added.
After moving to Hawaii in 2018, Harald fell in love with Hawaiian culture and language. He is determined to incorporate Hawaiian history into his own classroom because he knows how important it is to educate younger generations about the place they live in.
Receiving the 2021-22 Hiroshi & Barbara Kim Yamashita Undergraduate College Students Scholarship from HEA was an affirmation for Harald and he is grateful for the financial assistance as he continues his studies at Kapiolani Community College.
“When I received the scholarship, I felt like someone trusts my abilities to become a teacher and it makes me feel more confident about becoming a teacher,” said Harald.
Harald wants to teach children in West Oahu or other historically underserved communities. He believes children in those areas deserve supportive teachers who care about giving them a quality education. As an ESL speaker, Harald also recognizes the importance of helping other students who speak English as their second language.
“I am highly motivated to help students struggling with language or cultural barriers in school to succeed,” Harald said.