Makua Lani Christian Academy Student Wins Senior Essay Contest

Auto Body Hawai‘i announced that Neena Charles from Makua Lani Christian Academy has won its annual Senior Essay Contest.

Neena Charles won the 2017 Senior Essay Contest held by Auto Body Hawaii. Photo Courtesy

This years question was, “What was your biggest Moment of Awesomeness in your life?” Her essay response won her $1,000.

In her essay, titled “My Moment of Awesomeness: Home Alone,” Charles described how, in addition to her school work load as a senior, she had to step into the role of parent to her two young siblings while her mother and father had to attend to business in the Philippines for weeks, even months at a time.

An excerpt of her essay: “By the end of the several weeks my parents were gone, I felt a sense of accomplishment and maturity. In the end, what left the deepest impression was the value of never giving up. The act of playing the role as both my mom and dad was the ultimate event that marked my transition from childhood to adulthood. With so many responsibilities on my plate, I was able to learn how to manage my time better, be more on top of my work, and become more organized. Through this experience, I have gained a greater understanding of the duties of an adult and the hard work that is needed to get things done.”

All senior year students from West and North Hawai‘i’s schools were invited to participate in the contest.

The full essay is posted on the Auto Body Hawai‘i website.