Our years in high school, although seemingly long with four years, actually feel short-lived as they pass rapidly through. It is essential to cherish the opportunities presented in school, such as the activities and clubs offered all year long. This way, we can interact with other students, step outside our comfort zones, and understand our interests. To begin, students need to be well-rounded with activities to develop interests and hobbies and not solely focus on their studies. Extracurricular activities can also help an individual adapt to different circumstances, develop soft skills, and gain more knowledge. Not only does this help individuals progress and prepare them for unexpected situations, but it can also make their applications more competitive, whether they are applying to colleges or the workforce. The more a student is involved, the more it shows they have more to offer than just their academics; it gives more insight into what the student is interested in and may want to continue participating in. I have participated in a handful of extracurricular activities throughout my high school years. The activities that stood out the most to me were joining the tennis team, Spanish Club (Los Amigos), volunteering in the school library, and participating in a training program to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). As a freshman and sophomore, I was part of the junior varsity tennis team, and as a junior, I joined the junior varsity soft tennis team. In learning the fundamentals of tennis and playing matches for three years, I learned the importance of teamwork, tenacity, and maintaining optimism. I will forever cherish my time playing tennis because I learned much more than I expected when I joined to have fun but ended up enjoying it much more. To continue, for all four years I have been a part of the Spanish Club, Los Amigos. As a junior, I was the club president and am now vice president alongside other officers. We host interactive events and activities that promote Hispanic culture. Being part of this club throughout high school has taught me the importance of navigating diversity and finding a community of individuals with similar goals and supporting each other. As a junior, I volunteered at the Leilehua Library Learning Commons after school. I assisted with shelving books, physically canceling books, and attaching call number labels. Volunteering helped me understand there is more to a library than just stacking shelves; so much more goes on, and library staff are underappreciated when they do so much for students. Lastly, since October of my senior year up until the present, I have been part of an afterschool training program to become a CNA. I am learning the foundations of healthcare by learning knowledge and skills with nursing students and how to apply them. This program has strengthened my attention to detail, communication, and collaboration skills. Hence, my involvement in multiple activities has allowed me to develop skills and broaden my perspective in different circumstances. Therefore, students need to engage in activities outside of their academics that can help them progress as individuals. Whether it be a sport, performing arts, or community service, these activities will help students in one way or another, mainly when applied in any situation.

In the spring of my sophomore year, I was overwhelmed with responsibilities, including sports practices, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, balancing other classes, and much more. My birthday week was incredibly stressful, with my AP exams taking on the same day. That week, I was studying in my algebra class, doing my best to cram information for both exams two days later. However, I studied the material as my teacher reviewed notes in class. At one point, I was upset for stressing and procrastinating and had tears streaming down my face. My teacher noticed, and I was ready to apologize for not paying attention when he stopped me and told me that it was okay, that I should not be stressing about anything this much, and to breathe. He then encouraged me and said I would be okay because he knew I had what it takes but that stressing would not help. Afterward, he told me not to worry about what I missed in class and that I could make up the work another time. Although this was simple advice, it is still something that I think about and apply. My teacher’s support acted as a reality check and helped clear my perspective amidst my stress. When I am stressed out, my parents or friends say, “You’ll be fine” because they expect that I will do well, but even though I appreciate where it is coming from, it doesn’t feel genuine. It feels like they’re dismissing my worries and assuming that everything will always work out, which isn’t bad. However, with my teacher, I knew his response was genuine because he took the time to help me calm down and understand my potential without knowing me outside of his class. This experience has influenced my post-high school plans because I do not need to have everything figured out now. While it is essential to have a plan and an idea of what to do, I know that things will take their course, and I cannot understand what I truly want until I gain experience, knowledge, and understanding. For example, my current plan is to attend the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and pursue a degree in biology. Otherwise, I’m not sure what will continue after high school. This experience also reminded me that even though it is crucial to prioritize education with learning and studying, it is equally important to have periods of rest and trust my abilities. For example, my Advanced Placements Exams were not as bad as I expected, and I passed them even after all of the stress and worry I was carrying around. I now know that I should have trusted my abilities since I had done well with my practice exams and made sure to learn the material throughout the school year. Therefore, it is unfortunate and upsetting that teachers are under appreciated individuals in their profession. They dedicate their time helping students with whatever they need, whether related to the subject they teach or not, they are always welcoming. This is something that should not be taken for granted because, more often than not, they help push students past their limits and understand what they are capable of. Thus, I am grateful that my algebra teacher and many others have believed in me and my potential. I hope that they understand that I will always appreciate their support.