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Lark M Omura

Biography

Profile: Lark Omura graduated with honors from Berkeley City College (BCC) in California in 2010, did community organizing, and waitressed for a year while she got her finances in order, and is now headed up the road to the University of California at Berkeley to finish her degree.  Lark realized while writing a story for a publication in her native Hawaii that she not only had a nose for news, but enjoyed writing and reporting.  She’ll major in journalism at Cal, a school whose alumni have won eight Pulitzer Prizes over the years.  While at BCC Lark not only shined in the classroom, but was active with several service organizations including “Students for Social Change,” which is dedicated to economic and social justice and was an organizer for “Against Cuts,” a coalition opposed to reductions in education spending.

Inspiration:  At BCC Lark had a professor named Marc Lispi who was a critical thinking teacher and an activist.  “Many of the actions on campus concerning the fight against budget cuts he played a role in. In his class we discussed the world but also the roles that people could play. He brought activism to life as a choice one could make, a way of exerting your influence on society.” This notion excited Lark, who was searching for ways to change the world for the better. “This was the semester I became active in organizing the fight against budget cuts to education, taking part in teach-ins, protests, and other events. This active participation in bringing about the kind of democracy I believed in changed me, in ways that have affected my worldview and where I see my life going. I realize now that if you believe something is worth fighting for, then you should fight for it.”

Aspiration:  Lark hopes to be a journalist.

Making a Difference: “I want to live for a cause, for values, and for what could be,” said Lark.  Working as a community organizer to help people and change things for the better, both on and off the BCC campus, is part of Lark’s being. “The main driving factor in my applying to Berkeley was my urge to affect social justice in the world, and Berkeley’s reputation for doing just that draws me,” said Lark.  “From the protests over the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s, to the daily demonstrations which tend to pop up all over the campus, Berkeley has built its reputation on being ahead of the pack when it comes to progressive issues and activism.” 

Accolades:  Lark is the recipient of the Marion Macarell Scholarship and was a Dean’s List student in community college. 

Interesting Fact: Lark is sure her interesting fact has never been duplicated by any other Cooke Scholar.  “I work in a salami bar.” 

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