Aaron’s Adventures: About

I’m known on campus as a “lifer,” and if you’re not already familiar with the term, it basically means I’ve been attending Kamehameha Schools for all my life (yes, even preschool).

Throughout these 13 +1 years however, I’ve always wondered if people actually know who Aaron Veincent is.

I know it’s an odd questions to pose, but quite frankly, I ask it of myself a lot. Throughout my time here, have I made a name for myself?

Well, how about this: it’s my 14th year, and if you haven’t gotten the chance to know me by now here’s a little bit about me.

To state the obvious, my name’s Aaron Veincent, and I’m pretty much your not-so-average student.

Although I spent more than a decade on campus, to me, it’s felt like only three. Let me explain why.

Starting with the preschool days that I still remember sharply–the high-pitched whistles, the delectable lavender soap smell before lunch, the drool dripping out of my mouth during nap time, and of course, the rough texture of my mother’s jeans, which I basically pried myself off every morning never wanting to return to this place called school–but this was little 5-year-old Aaron’s daily routine.

Nevertheless, once I was out of preschool, I was thrown back into another, elementary. Elementary wasn’t as bad. I was used to the departure of my mother already, more likely she grew immune to my jean-ripping tactics; moreover, these years are when I solidified my impression that I am socially awkward. By all means, I tried to talk to others and make friends, but it really wasn’t a thing for me.

This awkward little guy continued his same ways into middle school, that time in your life when everyone purposely forgets because there’s that thing called puberty. Yuck! The whole “finding your true self” time period was never my favorite and was possibly the worst time in my life…no, yup, it was actually.

High school. Finally.  At least that is what I first thought. Everyone knows high school changes everything, and it honestly did. Freshman year I fell back into my same socially-awkward tendencies, but sophomore year is when I changed everything for the better.

I don’t know if it’s just that high school stereotype, but one day I took the time to truly reflect on myself and realized that I need to change for the better because, to be honest, this me was not going anywhere.

So I did. Within three years I did something that was long overdue. I stopped caring about what other people thought of me, and I just stuck to being myself.

As a result, I am now National Honor Society historian, editor-in-chief for the yearbook, editor for Ka Leo o Nā Koa, manager of water polo, and most surprisingly, class president.

Who would’ve known that little socially awkward and friendless Aaron would become such a thing?

I’m truly proud of the place that I am today. I enjoy the work I do, and I enjoy the people I surround myself with.

If nothing else, I at least want you to take away from this that high school is truly the time for change. As cliché as it may seem, it really is. These are our golden years. You’ll find your life change for the better when you step out of your comfort zone and just be yourself, or as Kevin Hart says it, “You do you, Boo Boo.”