Taking a leap of faith across the U.S. and Pacific, Quentin Shores—a communications major from New Albany, Ohio—arrived at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa knowing no one. But it didn’t take long for him to uncover a passion for storytelling, public speaking, and building meaningful connections that would define his college experience.
“I didn’t even know there was a college out here, and I’d never been here. I didn’t know a single person here, so it was just kind of like a shot in the dark,” said Shores.
Discovering passion through community, social media
In his second year, Shores worked at the Office of Admissions as a campus tour guide, where he discovered his passion for communications. His humor and charisma quickly resonated with prospective students and families, making each tour an unforgettable experience.
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That experience opened new doors, leading to a student host role on UH News’ weekly “What’s Up This Week” social media videos, where he honed his professional speaking and broadcasting skills. Shores was able to showcase and refine a range of his talents, aligning more closely with his passion for communication and performance.
“I feel like I’ve been able to match things like the art of public speaking and being able to present ideas clearly. UH really helped me narrow in on what I’m good at and where I want to go with it.”
Shores wore many hats: KTUH FM Honolulu DJ, social media manager for multiple organizations, and tenor saxophone section leader (and social media manager) for the UH Mānoa Marching Band. His social media videos for the band drew more than 100k views.
“The band was like a found family experience,” Shores said. “So I was able to come into the university and have, like, basically a group of friends right off the bat. That really helped me integrate into the island, as well as culturally into the campus.”
A message of resilience and new beginnings
Selected as the student speaker for commencement, Shores hopes to remind his fellow graduates that success isn’t always a straight line.
“I want to reassure everyone that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Society makes you think you need to know exactly what you’re doing after college. The truth is, it’s always going to be hard,” Shores said. “But if you’ve gone to college and built skills, it’s just a matter of time. You’ve already done the hard part.”
After graduation, Shores plans to travel and soak in new experiences before heading to Orlando in the fall to join the Disney College Program. There, he hopes to bring stories to life, spark joy through performance, and continue honing his craft in communication.
“I came here not knowing anyone, not knowing what I was doing,” he said. “But now, I leave feeling like I really found myself. And I think that’s the whole point of college. I always tell people—don’t be afraid to take risks. You might just find your people, your purpose, and a place that feels like home.”
—By McKenzie Kurosu
