Kamea Macusi is making strides as a Fulbright Scholar addressing adolescent suicide in South Korea. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumna earned her masters in social work (MSW) in 2022. She began her Fulbright program in 2023 as an English teaching assistant at two middle schools in Yeosu, South Korea, and has utilized her experience to delve into one of the most pressing mental health issues in the country.
“I always wanted to create good change for the world, and I knew that I wanted to go beyond just sitting within office walls. I wanted to impact the world,” said Macusi.
Her commitment led her to work with Hawaiʻi’s Department of Education and the YMCA during her time in the MSW program, helping her gain valuable experience in teaching and behavioral health.
Macusi’s research centers on the alarming prevalence of suicide among adolescents in South Korea, which ranks among the highest in Asia. Her research found that they were influenced by cultural norms like collectivism, societal pressure and academic competition. Collaborating with colleagues, including Seunghye Hong from the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, Macusi conducted a comprehensive study, which will soon be published in the Journal of Safety and Crisis Management. The study identifies key risk factors and proposes interventions to mitigate these issues.
It was because of UH Mānoa that I found the confidence to teach.
—Kamea Macusi
“It was because of UH Mānoa that I found the confidence to teach. The program was introduced to me through my studies, and Fulbright alumni in my cohort encouraged me to apply. A month ago, I was reviewing my old class notes and came across a note from one professor who had dedicated an affirmation to me. ‘Kamea,’ they said, ‘You are a teacher,’ and they continued on to say that even if I did not become a ‘proper’ teacher, I carried the spirit of teaching within me. Now, approximately four years later, I can say they were right.”
Upon completing her Fulbright program at the end of the year, Macusi plans to return to Texas to continue her advocacy work.
