When people ask me why I want to go to college, I visualize myself having the ability to bring people together. Growing up in Hawaii, there were a lot of huge family parties that I went to with my own family. Whether it was for a birthday, a wedding, or even a reunion, it was nice to have everyone together. My favorite part about these parties was the many stories, laughs, and smiles shared with one another. I believe that the relationships we have with others are one of the most important things that each of us should have, and by going to school and studying Journalism, I could acquire the skills that I need to uplift voices that aren’t being heard. My artistic dreams for the future really include being able to tell someone else’s story in the truest way because we each have a story that can inspire someone else, even if they might be halfway across the world.

“Maybe it’s just a sign that I shouldn’t go.” This thought and thoughts alike shuffled through my mind as I recently went through the process of taking out loans. While my mind was cluttered, tears were flooding from my eyes because I know that I don’t come from a family with a higher income and that would mean I along with my parents are in more debt due to my expenses for education. I was almost going to tell myself that education isn’t something that I need. The financial burden that I am feeling right now isn’t something that I have overcome yet because I know I am just starting my journey. After taking a few moments to recollect myself and reset my energy, I thought about ways that I’m going to afford this education because I do need it. I believe it’s necessary to becoming the highest version of myself and being able to serve others. To pay for my education and to overcome this burden, I’m finally going to start my small business, apply for an on-campus job, but most importantly work hard in school because I want to make every cent towards my schooling count. Coming face to face with a substantial amount of debt is scary and it almost made me give up on something that I truly believe in, but I know now that it’s necessary to be courageous and do the scary thing. This experience is teaching me to trust in and believe in my goals and aspirations so much that I won’t let anything get in the way of achieving them. I know that there will be more obstacles and people that won’t believe in me or my vision… but I will never let one of those obstacles or people be me.

I’ve witnessed changes that my grandparents didn’t ever see in their lifetime. I’ve seen beaches cleaner than they have ever been in years. I’ve seen grass grow where there was never any vegetation. Like our beaches, and like the land, sometimes we need a break in order to return back to our true, authentic selves. With many of my responsibilities put on hold due to the pandemic, I had time to go back to my passion projects. I produced the first mini-documentary that was solely produced by me. I have started the small business that I have been dreaming of for the longest time. I spent so much time with myself, doing what I love and trying out new things, that it eventually lead to me finding out who I am. I learned that I love to eat sushi. I love to learn and I love photography. With all this time and discovery, I also decided that I’m going to major in journalism. This breath of fresh air has allowed me to find out who I am at my core and like the plants in my yard… grow in every area that I can.

As someone who’s grown up in Hawai’i, it’s natural for me to clap for everyone and to not only elevate myself but to elevate others as well. I’m furthering my education by going to college with a Journalism and Media Studies major. With this major, I’ll be able to learn about public relations, journalism, social media marketing, and more. As a child, I was told many stories about Hawai’i, my grandparents, my ancestors, and Hawaiian culture. Along with these stories, I have always had a burning passion for art and anything media-related because, in every piece, video, photograph, writing, or illustration, there’s a story. There are so many stories from Hawai’i and even Polynesia that are amazing and have yet to be told. I know that by studying Journalism and Media, I have the opportunity to tell the stories that have been passed down for so many generations in a way that can be understood, in a way that is well crafted, and in a way that tells the stories truthfully and authentically. My education will give me this chance to not only tell stories from a different view, but it will also give me this chance to amplify the voices of those who haven’t gotten the chance to tell their story. Quotes are floating around the internet and there is one specifically that has resonated with me for a while. “The world will turn to Hawai’i as they search for peace because Hawai’i has the key… and that key is aloha.” There are different genres of movies and TV shows on streaming services like Netflix, but the ones that we all need sometimes are the movies that fall under moving, inspiring or uplifting. There are so many stories that I’ve been told about how Queen Lili’uokalani persevered for her people or about how the Hawaiian people have preserved their language and cultural practices even though it was banned once. These kinds of stories need to be told because they have the power to inspire others to stand strong in what they believe in, especially if they are considered the minority. There are a lot of movements that have been seeing more light such as Protect Mauna Kea, the Black Lives Matter movement, and many others in between that are just as significant. Within these movements are voices and whether they are loud or close to inaudible, everyone deserves the chance to be heard. There are three sides to the story and I want to be on the side of truth and balance, because without that… it is just a story. Without authenticity, there is no power. In every community, everyone has their part. Everyone has the responsibility of taking care of each other. I strongly believe that there is space for everyone and I know that with my education and my experiences, I can make my community a more inclusive place for everyone. This is the change that I want to see in the world; For everyone to know that there is space for them and I am acting locally by talking with those in my community and helping to share their story. Helping them to feel seen.

Google defines passion as a “strong and barely controllable emotion.” I want to do something for the rest of my life that makes me feel grateful for every breath that I take. I don’t want to wait for the weekends to live my life. I want to do things that bring out this uncontrollable emotion that many of us don’t experience nearly as often as we should. That is why I’m going to college. That is why I’m pursuing higher education. Throughout all my years in high school, I was in a class that taught me all about broadcast journalism. I learned about story structure, shotlists, communication, time management, and much more in this class. For six years, I’ve been competing in outrigger canoe paddling. In these years, I have served as captain of the boat which means I’m responsible for a lot. Especially keeping my team together, so I learned how to be understanding, how to be patient but how to also elevate others because as I like to tell myself, the only way we can rise is together (which is why I feel the need to amplify unheard voices through art and media). For as long as I can remember, I loved photography so I took up classes in high school, eventually created a website this year, and started working with new clients as well! I would do my schoolwork during the weekdays and then I do photoshoots for my friends on Saturdays. I absolutely loved my weekends because I got to take many portraits and experiment with the tools in Adobe Lightroom. Whether it be graphics, photography, or making videos, I love to create. It’s what sets my soul on fire. This is just something that I feel like I was born with, but growing up in Hawai’i taught me about how to talk to people, how to carry myself, and many other things while I’m in the process of creating. By growing up in a tight-knit community I learned how to talk to people (and I mean talk to understand, not just talk to reply). I learned how to treat people with aloha while also being professional at the same time. While I learned many things from being at home, I always knew at the back of my mind that higher education would undoubtedly benefit me. I want to learn how to perfect my craft, tell better stories, and better amplify the voices of those still waiting to be heard. Being at home and taking a few classes in high school made me a great storyteller, photographer, videographer, and journalist but pursuing higher education will allow me to reach my full potential. My passion for media, art, and creating isn’t just an uncontrollable feeling, but it’s what makes me excited to wake up in the mornings. Being able to create art with media makes me see the world in a different light and I want to go to college because I know it’ll help me be the person I want to be. I have all of this passion for media, which makes me even more motivated to learn because this is something I truly want for myself. I know there might be people who won’t believe in me down the road, but I will never let one of those people be me. I am headstrong and I know that this is an investment that I am making for myself which is important as I am the one who will always care most about my dreams and aspirations.

“No ku’u lāhui e hā’awi pau, a i ola mau.” For my nation, I give my all so that our legacy lives on. I define my, “everything” as someone or something that keeps me going and that helps me to see the world in a new light. Besides my mom, my family, and other people who have acted as strong pillars in my life, I consider my home here in Hawaiʻi, my everything. I grew up on the island of Oʻahu with the mountains in my backyard and the ocean in the front. Being able to hike and swim in the ocean (almost) whenever I wanted to taught me a lot. It taught me not only to appreciate the beauty around me but to be humble because while I feel most alive catching each wave and seeing each view at the top of a mountain, I know it can be taken away in a split second. Growing up in such a beautiful place makes me realize that it's important to be grateful for each breath and to never take any moment for granted. I grew up playing with my cousins that were my age but I also spent a lot of time talking to my grandparents and those that are older than me. There are so many sayings or Hawaiian proverbs but one of the sayings that stuck with me says the relationship between those who are younger and older is a relationship that is equally reciprocated. Long story short, we take care of each other. When our neighbors down the road are renovating their homes or need help setting up the party, without a question a lot of those who live in the community are there to offer their help. I’ve learned a lot about aloha these past eighteen years. I’ve learned about how everyone in the family has a role and that we all have to take care of each other. I’ve learned that the land is just as much important as humans and animals because it really does take care of us and provide for my family. My home is everything to me because without it I wouldn’t be who I am today. My morals, my priorities, and my values are all products of the environment that I was brought up in and I will take these with me to wherever I go, especially college. One of the things that I have learned while living here that I will remember forever is that the only way that we can rise is together. My home is my everything and I strive to bring honor to Hawai’i because this place that I love so deeply has given me more than anyone could imagine. (The art piece that I chose is one that I drew of me, embracing my culture because I know everything I do is not only for me but to give back to the people and the place that raised me.)