Aniyah is a freshman at Kapolei High School and recently joined the color guard team with the marching band. This summer, her team has been invited to Washington DC to participate in the Fourth of July National Independence Day Parade—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her and her teammates. This trip is not just about performing; it’s about representing her school, learning, and growing through new experiences, including visiting museums, the Capitol, and even touring a college campus.
Aniyah’s journey with color guard began when she attended her first football game in eighth grade with a family friend. She came home inspired by the halftime performance and told me she wanted to join the color guard when she started high school. As a new freshman, she signed up for the team and attended her very first band camp. She was nervous, didn’t know anyone, and had never even held a baton before. I remember picking her up after her first day—she got in the car and broke down in tears, overwhelmed by how hard it was and thinking she wanted to quit. In that moment, I had to decide whether to let her give up or encourage her to push through. I told her that even though it was hard and she felt behind, she couldn’t give up. I promised her that with hard work, she would succeed.
Band camp was tough—long days in the sun, bruises from learning new tricks, and the fear of not remembering routines. But Aniyah kept practicing and pushing herself. Now, months later, she has become an amazing color guard performer. She’s grown so much—stronger, more confident, and she’s made friendships that will last a lifetime. I am so proud of how far she’s come. I just want Aniyah to be able to attend this trip to experience the world and know what wonderful opportunities there are outside of Hawaii. I don’t want finances to be the reason she can’t attend this trip. With your support, Aniyah can take this next big step and make memories that will last forever. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality.
Aniyah’s journey with color guard began when she attended her first football game in eighth grade with a family friend. She came home inspired by the halftime performance and told me she wanted to join the color guard when she started high school. As a new freshman, she signed up for the team and attended her very first band camp. She was nervous, didn’t know anyone, and had never even held a baton before. I remember picking her up after her first day—she got in the car and broke down in tears, overwhelmed by how hard it was and thinking she wanted to quit. In that moment, I had to decide whether to let her give up or encourage her to push through. I told her that even though it was hard and she felt behind, she couldn’t give up. I promised her that with hard work, she would succeed.
Band camp was tough—long days in the sun, bruises from learning new tricks, and the fear of not remembering routines. But Aniyah kept practicing and pushing herself. Now, months later, she has become an amazing color guard performer. She’s grown so much—stronger, more confident, and she’s made friendships that will last a lifetime. I am so proud of how far she’s come. I just want Aniyah to be able to attend this trip to experience the world and know what wonderful opportunities there are outside of Hawaii. I don’t want finances to be the reason she can’t attend this trip. With your support, Aniyah can take this next big step and make memories that will last forever. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality.
Organizer
