Ha'awina Mai Hawaii
Lessons from Hawaii
The opportunities presented to us help to shape the people we grow to be. Every experience teaches us something about ourselves. Our trip to Hawaii was not only educational, fun, and exciting, but an opportunity for me to gain insight about myself. There were many aspects of the trip that were what I expected them to be. There were other parts that took me by surprise. However, when I look back upon the trip I would want every moment of the experience to remain exactly as it was.
The most rewarding part of my time in Hawaii is that I became certified in SCUBA diving while there. I am typically a person who is not afraid of anything. However, when we began preparing for an actual dive, I did become scared. I had a fear that my equipment would break and that I would drown. This was a new obstacle for me. I normally run head first into every new experience with little regard for the potential danger. When thoughts of catastrophe entered my mind and my heart began to beat faster, I wasn't sure how to proceed. Failure has never been an option for me. I knew I had to look within myself and find the courage to move beyond my fears. I figured if Madeline could get past her fears and be in the water with the fish, I could strap on my gear and trust that it would work. Once I faced my fear and dealt with it, the experience of SCUBA diving was more than I could have ever imagined. Mere words cannot relate how amazing it is to be so deep under the water and to be able to actually breathe. It was like exploring an entirely different world. On my first dive, I got to enjoy the special treat of seeing two white tipped reef sharks. The coral reefs were simply amazing. Being able to see the indigenous marine animals in their natural habitats was an experience I will never forget and hope to repeat often. In addition to the animals, the non-living aspects of the ocean were interesting as well. I really loved the archways that were formed by the lava. It was remarkable to discover natural architectural forms beneath the surface. It is extraordinary to realize that when I walk along the beach there is a world just inches away that I know so little about. Additionally, diving is as physically exhaustive as it is mentally rewarding. I have never pushed my body as hard as I did during a dive. I thought it would be like swimming, but the physical demands are much higher. If I had not tried SCUBA diving, I would have never had the appreciation for the ocean that I now do. Diving helped me learn more about my limits and how to exceed them.
Experiencing dorm-life was extremely beneficial in preparing me mentally for college. This was the longest I have ever been away from home. The length of the trip was a little daunting for both me and my parents. The time I spent in Hawaii gave us all a taste of what it will be like when I go away for school. I had to be responsible for myself and my parents needed to trust that I could do it. First and foremost, this was school. Not only did I have to be punctual for classes and meals, I also needed to be responsible for my studies. Additionally, I had to be organized, manage my money, and do my own laundry. I learned to be independent and to take care of things for myself. I had to work hard over the last year to save my spending money and help pay for my trip. At home, I have always had a room to myself, so it was interesting having a roommate. My roommate was fantastic and we get along great, but I had to think of her and how what I did or did not do would impact her. We were only in Hawaii for a
couple of weeks, but it helped me and my family to understand that college is not far away and that we can do it. I believe that my Hawaiian experience will make the transition from high school to college a little easier for all of us.
One of the most memorable moments in Hawaii involved my teacher, Ms. Lynch. Sometimes if we are not completely honest it is because we are trying to help someone else. Ms. Lynch was afraid to jump off the top of the cruise ship. As I mentioned before, I am not normally afraid of anything. The other students were cheering for her to jump, “Come on Ms. Lynch, just jump! The slide is even harder. Jump! Jump! Jump!” I could tell she was nervous, and she told the students that she is afraid of heights. It did not look like the kids were going to let it go. They kept yelling for her to jump long after she told them no. So, I told her that I was afraid of heights too and that I would jump if she would. Being the awesome teacher that she is, Ms. Lynch helped me face my “fear” and she jumped nervously into the ocean below. I followed her in. I hope that she will forgive me for not being completely honest with her, but my intention was to help her conquer her fears. I learned that everyone has things that they are afraid of and maybe it's not so terrible for someone else to know. That person might just care enough to help you.
A completely unexpected benefit from my time in Hawaii is that I made so many new friends. Four different schools, Batesville, Ronconalli, Whiteland, and Brown County, traveled to the Hawaiian Preparatory Academy. At first it was a little awkward and everyone stayed within their own groups. By the time we landed for our layover in Arizona we began to form new friendships. As the days went by we hung out, laughed, danced, studied, and experienced about a million new things together. Sixteen days later, when we arrived home in Indianapolis I was very sad to say goodbye to some of them. I expected to make friends on this trip. I am not shy and do not have trouble talking to new people. The surprising aspect was how quickly I felt as if I had known these people for much longer than I actually did. Being together day in and day out, sharing such an exciting experience truly forges bonds of friendship very rapidly. I hope to continue talking to many of them.
If you were to survey the students who went on this trip, I am positive that everyone would agree that certain parts of the Hawaiian experience were simply fun. After studying and being in classes, we often needed some time to just relax and enjoy being in paradise. Hapuna Beach was my favorite place to do this. There could be no better place for just being in the sun, body surfing in the ocean, and exploring the caves and rocks. Also, the shaved ice that we got in Hawaii is like no other. While in Hawaii I learned that while it is important to study and work hard, it is equally important to enjoy the moment. Balance is the key.
The entire experience of traveling to Hawaii was an adventure I will never forget. I know that opportunities like this are not possible for everyone. I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to have been able to go. It was so much fun! I am really proud that I am now SCUBA certified. I am looking forward to exploring other oceans. The things that I learned about myself while on this trip were very valuable. I feel that this trip helped me grow in numerous ways. Among the many lessons I learned while in Hawaii, I discovered I am a strong person who can overcome her fears, that I can be a successful, independent person away from Batesville, and that fun is just as important as hard work.
