What was meant to be the easiest year became the hardest. My name is Lindsey-Jewell Ramel, a Filipino student at Ka’ala Elementary. I struggled to speak English, even though I was born and raised in Wahiawa in an Ilocano-speaking home. Six years at this institution provided me with great teachers and friends, learning from failure, and the values of discipline and respect were instilled within me—Ka'ala's attitude of accepting new things. As a senior at Leilehua High School, it stays with me as I continue my education. From 2013 to 2018, I was truly blessed to be at Ka'ala. My teachers were dedicated and loving souls to me. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs.Snow, gave us a special chocolate rock at the end of class if we were good all day. It taught me that I will be rewarded if I do my best. My first-grade teacher, Mrs.Nakamura, checked on me, which I felt cared for after. In second grade, I was awarded Quality Producer by Mrs.Seneca. I was recognized for the first time for all the effort I put into my work. In fourth grade, Mrs.Abiva thanked me for sharing pencils and paper with others, learning to be responsible and kind. In fifth grade, Mrs.Soriano helped me with my financial needs to attend Camp Erdman. Each showed Ka'ala's spirit in their own way, with compassion and caring for others. My favorite memory is meeting my best friend Camry in kindergarten. I felt lonely, thinking no one would want to be my friend. She was the first person to ask me to hang out during recess. We were little girls playing with Play-Doh in Mrs.Snow's class. It was easy to talk to her. I could be my true self. Camry became part of every version of my life, knowing my family on a deeper level, and our hometown memories. Who could have imagined that one could impact your life so significantly? This friendship reflects the school's spirit of openness and courage. An important lesson I learned is that repeating kindergarten showed me that setbacks lead to growth. I despised myself for being dumb. It pushed me to improve my English language skills through the English Language Learner Program and Kumon, which my parents enrolled me in. I saw it as having the ability to adapt to a new environment. Failure does not define who you are; it motivates you to do better. The Ka'ala spirit taught me to encounter hardships with obedience and strength. My hopes are rooted in the Ka'ala spirit. The things I learned were humility and compassion. Facing challenges and opportunities in my heart—reminding me of the red and blue colors of Ka'ala, love in everything you do, and embracing courage. I enjoy helping others, so I want to study Public Health and Nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, through experiences like participating in the Health Services Class provided by Leilehua High School for almost 4 years now, and the Junior Mentorship program at Kaiser in the early summer of 2025. I continue to live out the spirit at Leilehua High School, volunteering and cheerleading. Being a team player and contributing back to the Wahiawa community. Without Ka’ala, I would be unmotivated to go out there to try new experiences and find my passion for the health field. I strive to be a go-getter with my goals and take initiative with my education. Helping my community embody the Kaala spirit by seeking courage in adversity and sharing love with the people and the ʻāina.