As a junior in high school, I was in shock after learning that some of us from the Kaimuki newspaper staff beat kids from other schools at a journalism competition. I was the moke wearing a "Kona Gold" t-shirt, corduroy jeans and rubber slippers. Didn't know then what Kona Gold was. Neither did my mom. I got the shirt for Christmas one year and liked the fit.

But as for the J-Day competition held at UH, nobody, including us kids from Kaimuki, knew we'd end up on a stage in an old UH lecture hall, in front of a lot of people to get awards while the kids from Punahou, Iolani, etc. watched. That experience was an eye opener.

My sister wanted badly to see my nephew go to a big ILH school and signed all the application forms. He wanted to stay close to home and go to middle school with his friends at Moanalua. Of course, mom got the final say. What's interesting is that even at age 11, he's come full circle. He used to say that he wanted to go to Iolani (friends), then he liked the idea of Punahou (bigger is better), then wound up hoping to go to Moanalua (lots of friends). He wants to go to UH since some of our extended family went there, but of course, his mom (who never went to college) cringes at the thought of "lowly" UH. Whatever he decides is fine with me as long as he tries his best and takes steps toward his dreams.

He's old enough to know that academic success happens regardless of whether you're at a private school or public school. I'm thankful he knows this.

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