Starting from leadership class at Kalāheo High, to student body president and graduating during the Pandemic, Schayden Gorai shared his unconventional rise to a promising career in politics and public relations. Gorai started as many students do at Kalāheo, taking on leadership. Shortly after, Gorai was a part of the Windward District school council assuming the roles of Vice and Student Body President. To top it all off, Gorai also held student positions with both Kalāheoʻs Community Council and the Teacher-Parent Association. 

Now, Gorai has been able to truly break into the political arena forming a career for himself. 

“I have been fortunate to work alongside State Representative Diamond Garcia (R-Kapolei, Ho'opili, Ewa) as his Legislative Aide during his freshman year. Subsequently, I assumed the position of Field Representative in Northern California and Northern Nevada for Turning Point Action. TPA is a 501(c)(4) organization founded in 2019 by Charlie Kirk, with the mission of emboldening the conservative base through grassroots activism and providing voters with the necessary resources to elect true conservative leaders.” 

With a lengthy resume at such a young age, one could assume that Gorai was a high academic performer while in high school. However, that is not his story. “My experience at Kalaheo High School might be considered unique. I was never a star student; in fact, quite the opposite. I never received awards for sports, grades, or much else, for that matter. Like most high school students, I did all the normal things high schoolers do – hanging out with friends both in and out of school, attending dances, and chatting about the latest gossip.”

Despite not being considered the “star student”,  Gorai shared how he was able to leverage his experience, passion, and efficiency in student government to build a network outside of school.  He strived to not only make a better environment at Kalāheo but later in the world. 

“I took my role in Student Government seriously, fully understanding the expectations, responsibilities, and implications this position possessed, especially after high school. In addition to the usual high school activities, I had early mornings, and late nights, and attended long meetings, along with out-of-school commitments.” 

While many student council students have a tough time managing all aspects of their academic life, on top of the tight schedules of Leadership, Gorai shared how being committed to the program not only makes the experience stand out but makes the memories worth it.

“Not many high schoolers can say they were the designated setup and breakdown

crew for every assembly, dance, or pretty much any other school-sponsored event. These unique experiences have led to great memories that we can't help but laugh about.” 

While a career in politics can be a touchy subject that is difficult for a high school student to balance, Gorai makes it clear that he never let that get in the way of his goals and values.  

“I consistently made it clear where I stood and never hid my opinions. Politics has always been the plan, and fortunately, it was in the books for me. From passionate discussions in class to actively participating in extracurriculars outside of class, I embraced every opportunity to engage with political issues and ideas.”

The year 2020 brought many challenges with the COVID-19 Virus– especially to young high school students.  While changes occurred, one thing remained true for Gorai: dedication and commitment. His positive mindset helped turn negatives into positives. An event that was orchestrated during COVID, ended up being Goraiʻs favorite Kalāheo memory. “As the year progressed, the COVID Pandemic abruptly halted our plans, leaving us with only Senior Week as one of the few class events we could enjoy together (except senior ditch day of course). The uncertainty and disruption brought by the pandemic were unprecedented, but they also brought our class closer as we faced challenges with determination and solidarity. “

“This experience held special significance because it offered me the chance to lead an entire class project/event from the ground up, resulting in something unique and memorable. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the memories we forged during Senior Week will forever hold a special place in my heart, serving as a reminder of the resilience and unity we demonstrated as a graduating class.“

The common pathway for many high school students after graduation is none other than university. However, Gorai holds a different story.  “During my senior year of high school, dozens of people asked me, “Where will you be going to college next year?“ Not “are you going?“ but “where are you going?“. [People still ask me about college]. The fact is, I had planned to go. Like most of my high school classmates, I had bought into the mindset that says, “Of course, I’m going to college. It’s just what you do. It’s how you prepare yourself for life, right?“  I felt pressure from everybody around me. 

Having taken a few community college classes and an unconventional route into politics, with no student debt, Gorai showed college is not a limiting factor in one's career path.  “Though I have no regrets now, there was a time when I had plenty of regrets. I used to see all my friends from high school going to college and having a good time. But, now, I message with friends, and they told me, “ I hate college! This is awful! I don’t know what I’m gonna do with my life, and now I’m saddled with all this debt!“

Through it all, Gorai still learned a valuable lesson and was given a sense of fulfillment that is not promised by any college degree. “There I was, just 19 years old, debt-free, and I knew exactly what I was going to do with my life because I was already doing it. OK, I didn’t have a diploma to hang on my wall. But I had achieved all the success that college promises, but rarely delivers.” 

Gorai wanted to make it clear to students that they do not have to feel trapped by the idea of going to college to be successful.  “Students might think college is a scam, especially if they think they’re not getting real value for their tuition dollars. But they think they have no choice. They’ve been told they must go deep in debt to get their ticket punched so they can come out with a degree. And that degree, they’ve been told, is the key to a successful

future. This is simply not true!”

In all, Gorai gave gratitude to the tools and foundations that Kalāheo was able to give to him during his high school career. 

“As I strive to make a positive impact and advocate for the well-being of our country, I carry the lessons learned at Kalaheo High School with me, always keeping the values of collaboration, resilience, and dedication to public service at the core of my work in politics. The school provided me with a nurturing and supportive environment where I could explore my interests, learn important life skills, and develop a strong sense of community and responsibility. Academically, while I may not have been a star student, Kalaheo taught me the value of perseverance and hard work. The challenges I faced in certain subjects motivated me to seek help from teachers and classmates, fostering a collaborative and determined spirit that I carry with me to this day.  My time at Kalaheo High School played a pivotal role in shaping both my success and the person I am today.”