Coming of Age
By Daphne-Jayne Corrales
I know that there are always times in life where everybody has their moments when they feel that they have took that next step in becoming a grown man or woman. From boys doing something dangerous becomes a man to a girl having that special sweet sixteen party, everybody learns that growing up is part of life and what we need to go through.
To be honest, thinking of my coming of age was really difficult for me to think of. I could write this essay about when I wore that white dress in my church receiving my 1st communion or even my 6th grade graduation to middle school. But I feel that those were the days when things were just getting started. I know that those things were very important because it basically helped me go through who I am today, but I feel that it’s not that big elevation I say is my coming of age because I am a growing teen as of this moment and not a little girl anymore.
My world has been revolved around school ever since I was a little 5 year-old. As those years in grade and middle school, I remember always thinking to myself, “I wonder what high school will be like?” Many questions popped into my head back in those days. It was elementary times riding in the car with my mom, I would say “Mommy, I don’t want to go to high school. It’s too big.” And she would say, “When you go to high school, you won’t think it’s big because you will be too grown up to notice it.” I know that at the time I was still small and I wouldn’t listen as much, so I was still scared.
Entering middle school few years after I started maturing a little bit and grew up knowing what skills are needing to succeed in high school like discipline, responsibility, honesty, just to name a few. I also learned about peer education such as drugs, sex and violence and how to be safe and healthy. I knew that all of these things will be a big key to having the best 4 years of high school coming around the corner of 8th grade, but I didn’t realize how challenging it will be.
And finally, it was time to hang with the big dogs. My high school years are here. When I thought of the words ‘High School’, I thought of the fear of messing up. I was so nervous but I always thought to myself that everything was going to be alright if I made the right choices and being happy.
Walking the halls of Moanalua High School home of the Na Menehune as a freshman, made me feel so proud to be representing a school where I will be going to for the next 4 important years in my life. Now, I am full grown enough to know better and to make my own decisions, there was nobody there to hold my hand anymore to class and tell me to sit in the corner for a time out. This was the time where none of those things are necessary anymore. Being independent makes me a better person now because I am the one that will be walking out of this high school and living the real world of an adult. I take education in high school seriously because my future is too precious for me to throw it all away.
I still remember those days when my mom told me, “When you go to high school, you won’t think it’s big because you will be too grown up to notice it”. That was years ago. And now she’s telling me, “Now you’re in high school, live every single day in it as if there are no regrets for these fours years are most memorable and important.”
By Daphne-Jayne Corrales
I know that there are always times in life where everybody has their moments when they feel that they have took that next step in becoming a grown man or woman. From boys doing something dangerous becomes a man to a girl having that special sweet sixteen party, everybody learns that growing up is part of life and what we need to go through.
To be honest, thinking of my coming of age was really difficult for me to think of. I could write this essay about when I wore that white dress in my church receiving my 1st communion or even my 6th grade graduation to middle school. But I feel that those were the days when things were just getting started. I know that those things were very important because it basically helped me go through who I am today, but I feel that it’s not that big elevation I say is my coming of age because I am a growing teen as of this moment and not a little girl anymore.
My world has been revolved around school ever since I was a little 5 year-old. As those years in grade and middle school, I remember always thinking to myself, “I wonder what high school will be like?” Many questions popped into my head back in those days. It was elementary times riding in the car with my mom, I would say “Mommy, I don’t want to go to high school. It’s too big.” And she would say, “When you go to high school, you won’t think it’s big because you will be too grown up to notice it.” I know that at the time I was still small and I wouldn’t listen as much, so I was still scared.
Entering middle school few years after I started maturing a little bit and grew up knowing what skills are needing to succeed in high school like discipline, responsibility, honesty, just to name a few. I also learned about peer education such as drugs, sex and violence and how to be safe and healthy. I knew that all of these things will be a big key to having the best 4 years of high school coming around the corner of 8th grade, but I didn’t realize how challenging it will be.
And finally, it was time to hang with the big dogs. My high school years are here. When I thought of the words ‘High School’, I thought of the fear of messing up. I was so nervous but I always thought to myself that everything was going to be alright if I made the right choices and being happy.
Walking the halls of Moanalua High School home of the Na Menehune as a freshman, made me feel so proud to be representing a school where I will be going to for the next 4 important years in my life. Now, I am full grown enough to know better and to make my own decisions, there was nobody there to hold my hand anymore to class and tell me to sit in the corner for a time out. This was the time where none of those things are necessary anymore. Being independent makes me a better person now because I am the one that will be walking out of this high school and living the real world of an adult. I take education in high school seriously because my future is too precious for me to throw it all away.
I still remember those days when my mom told me, “When you go to high school, you won’t think it’s big because you will be too grown up to notice it”. That was years ago. And now she’s telling me, “Now you’re in high school, live every single day in it as if there are no regrets for these fours years are most memorable and important.”
