It has been a long time since I have been on Nacos. My summer has been filled with baseball, colleges, studying, and friends! My new top three schools are USC, Santa Clara, and Washington. I have visited them all this summer, and they’re all great places to be. I will carry the torch of “speaking Japanese through the heart,” where ever I go. Please live your lives with vitality and strength, and stay true to yourself.

This is it. I’ve been studying really hard for the past few days, all in preparation for my Japanese final exam. It has been of the utmost importance to me. I am so exuasted by studying that I’m starting to fall asleep! I only get this tired when I’m studying hard. Lets hope it pays off!

This Summer I’m planning a lot of things. Summer baseball is beginning, and this is my chance to try out different things and get better at baseball. I just love playing the game so I’ll be having lots of fun too of course. My other plans would be working out and hanging with my friends. My mom said a lot of people tell her that I look skinnier and weaker, so I want to change that. Most importantly, I am going to compete in the Magic The Gathering Nationals Championship in Missouri. I won the chance to go by winning the Regionals Championship in Hawaii. I can’t wait to represent my state and bring a National Championship home!

Travis Ganiko and Charles Sonido Qualify for Nationals

Yesterday the men of Punahou took on the boys of Kailua for the Div 1 Baseball State title. Our team had come a long way, from just barely getting into the playoffs to being in the championship game. We were not a clumped up bunch of individuals, but a cohesive team who supported and believed in each other. After 7 hard fought innings, we came outon top, winnign 3-2. The dugout went crazy as we celebrated on the field. After the game we were invited to Punahou’s president’s house, and then went on to my coaches house to party. I didnt get home till 3 in the morning. We worked and played so hard, and that is what got us our 6th championship in a row

Last week was my junior prom, and all I can say is it was a fun time. I got to take lots of pictures, hang out with my friends, and spent a whole night with an amazing girl. The food was good, and the dance was even better. I felt bad because a couple of my friends dates didn’t want to dance with them, so I let my one friend dance with my date. It was a super fun night, and I cant wait to go to another one!

Yesterday was the final game of the ILH regular season. It was us versus my favorite rival, Iolani. Iolani was currently the best team in the ILH, and I loved nothing nothing more than defeating that very team. It was a great game taht got our whole team involved. It can down to the last inning with two outs, me at second and one of our best hitters, Alaka’i, at the plate. The Iolani pitcher got two strikes on him, but I was confident he’d give us a chance. I told myself that I would score this run. Alaka’i struck a line drive, and I turn at third and ran home, seeing the players and the crowd jumping up and down. I saw the catcher move towards me, and I felt the ball clip my heels, but stepped on home. As soon as I did, I saw all my team mates rush out of the dugout to congradulate me and Alaka’i. It was a great feeling.

Compared to Japan, American children lead much more balanced lives. Or at least I hear. Japanese children are often pressured to study all the time because of difficult college exams, and thus lose out on all the other things life has to offer.Take me for example. I play sports, read, do community service, and next year, I plan to get involved in drama/theater. I used to play the ukulele and the piano. I get to hang out with my friends during school and on the weekends. I’ve had my fair share of relationships, good and bad. I’ve learned to talk to people. I believe these things are more important than sitting around in a library all day wasting away. So when I become an adult, I will be ready for the real life ahead of me.

Time with friends is time well spent. Theres nothing I love better than just hanging out with people you have fun with. Friends come and go, but the good tiems stay the same. Sometimes friends you thought you were close to drift away, and the friends you never knew become your closest!

Junior year has been pretty weird for me. It seems as though I’ve lost all my steam going through freshman and sohpomore year. Can I make it back to finished the junior eyar strong?

When we get back to school, it will be new quarter, and I’ve been thinking about school alot lately. The seniors will be graduating soon, and we will become seniors! My high school career slowly draws to a close. Iwill try my best for the rest of the year.