Internships are an experience that can make or break a career path for many students.   Being a way for us to take a potential occupation to the next level, internships can decide the fate of successful individuals within our community. Internships can teach us, form networks, and most importantly, tap into our passion. A passion we may stay with for years to come. It was an internship that determined the course of 1976 Kalāheo alumna, Erin Harr-Yee’s career. Interning at Planned Parenthood in Hawaiʻi, Harr-Yee was able to leverage her time with the organization to start a job with Planned Parenthood in Northern California. 

“ I started as a patient care assistant, providing reproductive care to patients. I enjoyed our mission and work to help our community and rose through the ranks of Planned Parenthood”.  Later, Harr-Yee was able to become an executive member of Planned Parenthood. Overseeing their budget of 40 million along with managing 20 health centers in the Northern part of California. “I ultimately became the Sr. VP of Patient Services (COO) at Planned Parenthood Northern California. It was a challenging job, but I loved it”. 

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Harr-Yee decided to change her path and step back from Planned Parenthood. “A friend asked me to support the Covid initiative at the Public Health Institute, overseeing contact tracing staff and supporting the county’s Public Health Department in California”. Despite the job being fully remote, Harr-Yee managed over 200 contact tracing staff, later turning to a new job.  

“As COVID cases decreased, I transitioned to a new position as the Operation Director, overseeing COVID support for 34 community organizations.” During her time at Kalāheo, Harr-Yee recounted the strong bonds formed with her peers. Being a small school, it enabled Harr-Yee to connect with her class on such a strong level– that many still keep in touch today. 

 “I had the chance to form bonds with my classmates that have lasted a lifetime. The fact that it was a new high school allowed me to get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as choir and social clubs”. 

In spite of her success, Harr-Yee made it known that not only was she not the best student in high school she also did not have a clear direction of what she wanted to do after high school.  “I wasn’t the best student in high school but I found my stride in college and excelled academically. And mother and grandmother were both teachers, so I thought teaching was the right path for me. However, I soon realized it wasn’t my passion and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management at UH,” she explained. 

“Later, I ended up discovering my true calling while working at Planned Parenthood. My experience at Kalāheo and in Hawaiʻi shaped my passion for working with underrepresented communities, especially women.”