{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-story-js","path":"/story/the-lessons-we-learn-e/","result":{"pageContext":{"data":{"id":"-e3955a86-f2d4-5f95-ab93-53a6ae47856f","authorFirstName":"Edward","storyTitle":"The Lessons We Learn","photo":{"asset":{"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/nr9digz2/production/dbbf0dda2b2d45159ca73a0dba0f95bd80deac8d-2475x3712.jpg"}},"audio":{"asset":{"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/files/nr9digz2/production/ed04aa9467e6dae7b0fac50dbe9cc713a649689d.wav"}},"secondLanguageAudio":null,"school":{"name":"Ka'u High and Pahala Elementary School","city":"Pahala","location":"Hawaii"},"tags":[],"_rawText":[{"_key":"dc840ab48210","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9c406d301d870","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For the first couple months of my life I lived in a tent; pitched up on a patch of grass surrounded by nothing but lava rock. My dad worked constantly, trying to support us whilst building our house from the ground up. It was a struggle, but it taught me that through hard work and perseverance you can overcome anything. Fast forward to 2020, when my ability to persevere was truly put to the test."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc0252781285","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cf2dfc176d0c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"High School was on the horizon the true start of my academic career, But uncertainty and uneasiness arose as the world was put on lockdown. I had applied to HPA, a private school on the north side of the Big Island and I was accepted. I was ecstatic as I had dreamed of going to this school for years. Unfortunately, this dream was squashed. When I arrived to board on campus I was presented with an ultimatum, either get the covid vaccine by October of that year or unenroll from their institution. It was a hard decision but because of uncertainty surrounding the vaccines long term effects, I decided to not get the vaccine and unenroll. I was missing out on my first year of high school and it sucked, but it gave me an opportunity to persevere."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d15961f097cd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3276fe97b0f50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Covid was a huge struggle for me, taking away my ability to socialize and cutting me off from the resources I needed to learn. It was really hard, but I never gave in, teaching myself throughout my freshman year. Towards the end of my freshman year the world started to return to normal, Covid mandates began to lift and eventually, I was able to reintegrate into society. Still, the damage had been done and I ended my freshman year with a 2.9 GPA, something I wasn’t proud of. Even though I had a rough start to my highschool career, it really tested my ability to persevere, proving to me that I can accomplish hard things."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"af18e10157e3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cf71216747ae0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With this new perspective I sought to better my community, returning to school for my sophomore year, I joined the athletics program at Ka’u High playing as many sports as I could. Throughout my sophomore and Junior years I decided to get involved with lots of volunteer work and community service. I participated in reforestation efforts and wild-life studies through the DLNR, I also participated in local beach clean-ups, and native Hawaiian restoration projects garnering me over 100 hours of community service. Without the difficulties I faced during Covid I wouldn’t have had these incredible experiences or opportunities."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d8bdcc8ce5ff","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6c2d21ca9311","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Today I hold the same mindset and I strive to apply myself in anything I decide to do. I was accepted into university which is one of my most recent and proudest achievements. An article I wrote about the effect of technology on the youngest generation titled “Technology: Shaping Our Youth for Better or Worse” was published in the Honolulu Star Advertiser. I won first place in a Malama Hawaii's environment essay contest winning me a grand prize of 200 dollars. It feels amazing to accomplish something and I am proud of all my achievements. A few years ago I thought that it wasn’t possible for me to achieve things that I'm proud of, but a change in perspective can be profound. By persevering and learning to take advantage of every opportunity I'm presented with, I know I can achieve anything I set my mind to."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}}},"staticQueryHashes":["3309388390","890781507"]}