For a long time, I have been riding the wrongs, trying to find my place in this world. I was once an at-risk youth who has been running away from his problems, always hoping that the next day will be better. I seemed to let my parents down. The only people who have ever loved me. They were sick of me doing not anything with my life, and how I always told them I would go out and doing something towards success, but I would never come through with it. All I did was go out into the nightlife and try to make myself a name. I wanted to be the "big dog" out there. I felt as if I was never good enough for today's society, and I always had to prove myself worthy.

I arrived to the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, scared and breathless. I knew it was going to be hard to make it through the upcoming twenty-two weeks; but I had a belief that whatever does not kill me, will make me a stronger individual. However, I had a goal and a dream. My goal was to not just go on that free ride through those five-and a half months, but to give it my all day by day, all the way till graduation.

 During my first week at Challenge, I saw in the cadet handbook that there will be awards that will recognize a cadet's hard work. I saw on the top of that award listing that there will be an award that will be only awarded to one cadet. The award is called the Governor's Distinguished Cadet Award. I had asked my Cadre Instructor about the award, and he told me that on graduation day, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, will present one cadet with such an award. Immediately I thought about how my Mom and Dad would feel if their son received such an award, and how self-content, and happy I would be. However at that time, there was one hundred and fourty-five other individuals that would have a shot at it too,  the idea of it was just a dream.

 Weeks past, and so new things came to happen. Such as the election of the cadet student government, I ran for President, and to my surprise the whole Company voted me for the position. At first I wanted to run for something less, such as just a platoon representative just because there would be a better chance at me being elected into the government. The moral of the story is that I took that risk, to never settle for less. Being elected President showed to me that maybe big things are possible. I gave it my best effort all the way till the day of Graduation.

Graduation day did come, and as the MC announced the order of the awards to be given, the Governor's Award being the last. My body was immediately filled with great anxiety. After all but the Governor's Award were presented, I became much more calm. I thought in my head that even if I do not receive this award, and claim the glory from my parents and the audience. I would still know in myself that I tried my best throughout this program that I thought would be impossible to endure. I felt as if I didn't have to prove anything to nobody no more, I believed at that moment that I would just do my best day by day, and everything else will fall in somehow, someway.

I did receive the award, and what was a dream, now was a reality.

Now, I am in college because of the help of all of the Challenge's counselors and instructors. I am on my way to become a Doctor, or what you would say a family practitioner. Also, when I turn seventeen, I  will be enlisting into the United States Marine Corps.  I am  off to bigger and better things out there.

Youth Challenge Academy has taught me more than what I have ever learned in my life. It showed me that anything is possible.  All you need in order to live dreams, is someone willing to try, and Youth Challenge Academy will not be my biggest accomplishment. The are much more to come.