Page 5 - MidWeek East - Feb 2, 2022

BY TASHA MERO
have any mentoring before I left Hawai‘i for the first time to go to Princeton.
East O‘ahu resident Mel- vin “Mel” Masuda recent- ly published his very own book in hopes of helping high school students. Ma- suda, who has college de- grees from three different Ivy League schools, named his book The Lucky 7 Les- sons They Don’t Teach You at Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.
Melvin “Mel” Masuda
“I hope that the book is helpful to high school students of working class backgrounds who are the first generation in their families to attend college,” he shares. “Also, I hope that people in general will see how hard work and faith in God can help any- one overcome adversity.”
“I have always tried to use my ‘fancy’ advanced degrees and knowledge to help other people,” Masuda says. “As a law professor, I very much enjoyed mentor- ing students for 24 years.”
from-home environment, he was able to do just that and wrote his book in one month.
He says that he feels as though his life has come full circle being that he currently lives in the same neighborhood that he once grew up in.
Masuda had been think- ing about creating a book ever since he retired from teaching full time in 2014. With the pandemic’s work-
The Roosevelt High School graduate notes that he wishes he had a mentor when he was still in school.
Readers can find Masu- da’s book on amazon.com. He notes that any royalties he may receive will be do- nated to Hawai‘i Commu- nity Foundation.
FEBRUARY 2, 2022 5
Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom
“I’ m a first-generation college graduate,” Masuda adds. “I, myself, did not
Pre -Valentine’s Day Special
Pacific Ocean Jewelers
Monday – Saturday 10am-6pm • Sunday 11am-4pm 4211 Waialae Ave. (Inside Kahala Mall) (808) 784-0299
20%OFF
Must present coupon. Expires 2/14/22
Pacific Ocean Jewelers