Once shy, student is twice bitten by service success

To hear Marisah Goo speak of the stifling shyness she suffered as a child is to draw on the same suspension of disbelief necessary to imagine Sasquatch confessing a fear of the woods or Wonder Woman intimating a reticence to rock the shoulderless top.

“I hated public speaking,” she said emphatically. “I was really shy and timid at social gatherings.”

Now all of 16, the Maryknoll School junior is a study in poise, confidence and positivity, her pre-adolescent bashfulness systematically undone by years of organized activities that have opened her eyes to the panorama of opportunities surrounding her.

An early milestone came when Goo was, in her words, “a naive little girl” participating in a Girl Scouts activity organized and led by older Scouts.

“They were probably just 15 or 16 years old, but they seemed so well put together,” Goo said. “They knew how to lead, and they looked so comfortable and at home. I knew that I wanted to be like that.”

Goo credits her experiences with the Girl Scouts of Hawaii and Maryknoll School with giving her the structure and the confidence to pursue an ever-expanding array of interests — many of them involving community service and cultural preservation.

Goo promotes broad participation and service as president of the school’s Chinese Club. And leveraging the skills she honed hawking Girl Scout cookies over the years, she oversaw a club fundraising activity that sold some 200 Panda Express plate lunches, roughly twice as many as the previous year.

“I’ve learned a lot of Chinese values through my parents,” Goo said. “Always help other people. Take care of others before you take care of yourself. Do good things. I’m aware that a lot of students are not in touch with their culture, and it’s important to me to represent mine.”

Goo also serves as secretary of the Maryknoll Student Senate and is an active member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, Key Club and Math Team.

Goo joined the math club despite the fact that she considers herself “not the brightest in math.” In fact, it was the opportunity to improve her skills that drove her decision.

And, as has been the case with nearly every program she’s joined, Goo has found even greater value in the diversity of people with whom she has interacted and friendships she has been able to form.

“The encouragement was always there, and I love being a part of something that makes a positive impact,” she said.

Last year Goo joined her school’s Civil Air Patrol program (the Air Force equivalent of the Army’s Junior ROTC). Initially concerned that people would judge her for participating in a largely male-dominated program, Goo is among six proud young women among the school’s approximately 40 CAP members. A staff member serving as the club’s executive officer, Goo said she is considering enlisting as an officer in the Air Force after she completes college.

Goo’s activities continue even when school is on hiatus.

Two years ago Goo, who took up tennis in the seventh grade, volunteered to serve as an assistant tennis coach at the Maryknoll International Summer Camp. There she worked with students from Shanghai and Wuhan, China, ages 10 to 18. In addition to tennis activities, Goo also spends time assisting the students at afternoon activities, including an ukulele workshop.

Goo has also volunteered as an aide with the Hongwanji Mission School’s summer school and summer fun programs and, via the Key Club, as an usher with the Honolulu Zoo’s summer concert series.

In all, Goo has amassed more than 250 hours of volunteer community service over the last two years, a key factor in Maryknoll recently awarding her the 2018 Kekumano Scholarship. The $12,000 award recognizes the student who best exemplifies the school motto “noblesse oblige” (“to whom much is given, much is expected”).

In accepting the scholarship, Goo acknowledged the love and support of her parents, whom she referred to as “my best friends.”

“I know they do everything out of love for me,” she said.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.