By Marites Cruzada | Special to the Herald

Discipline. Faith. These are the prominent words used by 24-year-old Hazel Abinsay of Kalihi when asked to reflect on her student years at St.AnthonySchool in Kalihi. For this intelligent and determined young woman, her formative years at the school were guided by these two values.

A second-year medical student at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hazel’s desire to become a pediatrician developed while she was still a student at St. Anthony. This apple does not fall too far from the proverbial tree — she is the daughter of pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Abinsay. Her father is ex-state representative Felipe “Jun” Abinsay.

Hazel graduated from St. Anthony in 1996 and was the valedictorian of her 8th grade class. After attending SacredHeartsAcademy, she earned a bachelor of arts in biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She attributes her academic success and spiritual foundation to the values instilled in her by her teachers at St. Anthony.

“St.AnthonySchool taught me the values of religion and faith,” she said. “These values have helped me most especially in my field of study — medicine.”

Her faith in God has helped her cope with the idea that there is only so much that medicine can do. She is mindful that, in spite of her desire to help people, there will be times when things will be out of her hands and beyond her control. Her faith keeps her going and makes her strong enough to continue in her endeavor.

“Faith keeps me strong and grounded,” she said. “If I didn’t have faith, I wouldn’t be a happy person.”

She remembers with particular fondness two St. Anthony teachers who influenced her. Her fourth grade teacher Mrs. Josephina Edwards was a positive motivator.

“She made everyone in her class feel that they could accomplish anything,” Hazel said, “and was a great role model because she saw the best in everyone. She made us believe that there is good in everyone and to not give up on people.”

Mrs. Josefina Thorp was another monumental influence. As her seventh and eighth grade homeroom advisor, Mrs. Thorp was a great inspiration, Hazel said. “I learned a lot about discipline from Mrs. Thorp most especially. She was always motivating us and teaching us a sense of discipline to prepare us for high school and beyond.”

As fate would have it, Hazel has another reason why she has fond memories of her former school. It was there that she met and was a classmate of her current boyfriend. He is also a medical student, and influenced and inspired by Mrs. Thorp.

St. Anthony School , small as it is, is extremely proud of its current students and its alumni. In spite of its inconspicuous location in a Kalihi neighborhood, it has managed to educate and enlighten students with academic and spiritual values they will sustain well beyond their grade school and high school years.

St. Anthony School believes in its mission statement: “Providing a Christ-centered education preparing the youth for life.”

Hazel is well on her way to achieving her goals and, one day, would like to give back to her Kalihi community and the people of Hawaii. Her ultimate desire is to practice pediatrics in her hometown. St.AnthonySchool alumna certainly has the passion, the discipline and, most importantly, the faith to do it.