One+Team

Vanessa Shin
 * One Team, One Planet **

 My friends have three eyes on their faces today – two eyes for seeing and an `Iolani “I” proudly painted on their cheeks. It is All Out Raider Day, and wearing any color except for `Iolani’s school colors seemed unforgivable. The only thing I could see was red, black, and white, but I could feel the excitement and energy radiating off of every student and teacher. Wow, I thought, I guess this is what they mean by “one team.”  Everyone knows what `Iolani is: a recognized and admired school which has a reputation for lots of homework and an undying “One Team” spirit. Honestly, that’s all I thought of this school when I first walked into my homeroom, very unsure of what to expect. However, after a year at `Iolani, I know this school is much more. `Iolani is like traveling to another planet. The environment is completely different, many challenges and problems are presented on a daily basis, and the view of our world is never the same. One thing is sure – we’re all one team, and this is seen through every aspect of life on Planet `Iolani.  As a new student in 8 th  grade, stepping on to `Iolani’s campus was like setting foot in a completely new place. `Iolani’s campus was much larger with more resources compared to the small private school I attended to before. I was really intimidated, especially when I first entered the Lower Gym. The bright lights, numerous banners, and high ceilings seemed like just another example of `Iolani’s out-of-this-world standards. Would I ever get used to this? At first, just about everyone I laid eyes on was a stranger. However, I met really friendly and helpful people that made my first days easier and less stressful. I was fortunate to receive explanations on the bell schedule, help with finding classrooms, and answers to all of my questions. I received unending support from my family and listened to helpful advice from my senior big sister. I honestly felt the famous “One Team” spirit that everyone talked about.  Just like an astronaut must adapt to a new lifestyle on a different planet, learning to adapt to this very different school was extremely important. I soon found out that I would need that skill in dealing with the increased amount of homework and studying. At Holy Family Catholic Academy, the school I attended prior to `Iolani, I could finish most of the homework in class or in less than an hour. At `Iolani, sometimes all I wanted to do was complain about the workload. It was if hard work was the sun, and `Iolani revolved around it. It was not easy getting used to more homework, and it was also a challenge in budgeting my time after I decided to try out and play on the intermediate tennis team. Before, I could get away with procrastinating, but in 8 th  grade I had to develop necessary skills such as competent time management, discipline, and perseverance. Inevitably, I lost much sleep at first, but over time I got into the rhythm of `Iolani and kept up throughout the year. I am so grateful that my teachers always had their doors open to answer my questions and encouraged coming in for extra help. I also received assistance from friends, and getting through midterms, projects, and tough tests helped out friendship. My teachers presented us with many group activities, teaching us to take initiative, be leaders, and work together as a team. From this last year, I learned the definition of “hard work”, but I also learned the definition of “teamwork.”  After being at `Iolani, my view of the world has completely changed. It is as if I am looking at the earth from space, and I see many things I would have never seen without `Iolani. I can see my future opportunities like bright stars in the sky. It seems like every day is a journey with new challenges constantly coming my way, but I am never alone. Over the course of my first year at `Iolani, I developed a greater appreciation for teamwork, friends, and of course, weekends, but I have never been so thankful for the skills I was forced to develop. `Iolani will always be a part of me, as will all of us Raiders. Even when I leave this school, its unified spirit will always be in me, and will be revealed to others in the way I act. `Iolani will always be one of the biggest planets in my solar system, orbiting around my heart.