Week 1 Reflective Blog Post: My Journey With English – As a Language, Subject, and Identity

 Growing up my parents have always placed an emphasis on the importance of getting a good education. With this, they applied me for Kamehameha Schools, a school for Native Hawaiian children that grants hundreds of young Keiki access to a prestigious and formal education. It is a college prep school, especially once the high school years are entered as the hope is to prepare students for their post-high endeavors through rigorous coursework. Having attended this school from kindergarten, I was fortunate to have been granted access to countless resources and opportunities which have shaped me into the young native Hawaiian woman that I am today.

My Earliest Memories

Reading was one of my favorite hobbies growing up, especially in my early adolescent days. I would always aspire to reach the monthly or yearly reading challenges, hoping to get rewarded. Academic validation was something that I sought out from a very young age. Writing on the other hand, was a way for me to showcase my knowledge and skills. Essays, for some odd reason, were always something that I looked forward to once I grew older, until of course I started writing them lol. Being educated in various ways was my way of proving my success not only to myself, but to others. Over the years, however, writing has become not only an outlet for me personally, but a way for me to exemplify and represent myself as a student. I feel that with the great role models and resources that I have been provided, I have grown into an adequate writer. While this blog post may seem quite formal to many, it is a reflection of the way that I was taught and inspired to write. With this being said, I hope to be able to shift my writing into having a personal voice or tone throughout it so that I can personally represent my tru self through my writing.

English: Da Hawaiian Style

Obviously growing up in Hawai'i, pidgin is heavily used throughout our day to day lives. I never really knew that it was an actual language until I grew older and just always thought that it was how everyone talked. While I am not a heavy pidgin user myself, I do recognize the influence that the language has had on my proper English.I would consider the distinction between the two to be an informal vs. formal kind of English use in my day to day lives. When speaking different languages, it is common to be able to distinguish the time and place to use certain slang and when not to which is what we have to do in today's society. 

My Goals

I aspire to be able to complete my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Business Management along with earning my Pre-Law certificate. With these certifications, I hope to attend Law School at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Becoming a Lawyer was my dream job as a kid, however I was influenced to try and pursue aviation as I got closer to college. Through my first year, I was able to explore that interest, but soon learned about how difficult the process could be. I wouldn't say that I was a discouraged by this, but more so inspired to re-navigate and explore my original interest which had always been law. While I do enjoy a good argument, I also enjoy being able to have a voice for and against things that are within my belief. While I understand that I can't pick and choose what I represent or the scenario, I just hope to be. voice of reason for others and fight for what it right. I am filled with dreams and aspirations and am still unsure of what the future holds for me, but I know the it will be the best and right one that I create for myself. English influences my identity in ways that I truly don't realize. While it is a big part for me, I don't want to stray away from my identity as a Native Hawaiian because that is what I truly feel and want to continue to be connected to. I do feel empowered by my ability to understand and interpret through the language because it is what allows me to have a voice which is what I will continue to hold with me throughout my life.