CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM About 1,700 fifth- and sixth-graders heard messages on how to adjust to life in middle school at yesterday's Student Transition Convention at Blaisdell Arena. The event was the 100th convention held by Adult Friends for Youth since 1990.

Isle kids get tips on
taking next big step
to middle school

The Student Transition Convention
gives students confidence and allays fears

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By Susan Essoyan
sessoyan@starbulletin.com

Like many other students who are making the leap to middle school this fall, 10-year-old Phemilyn Coloma feels a little nervous.

"I'm worried that I'm not going to make any new friends," the fifth-grader at Kalihi-Kai School said in a shy voice.

Sixth-grader Billy Rivera, of Fern School, looked cool, his hair slicked with gel, but admitted he was scared that "there might be gangs in middle school."

Yesterday, both students had their fears allayed and got tips on how to handle the next big step in their lives at the Student Transition Convention at Blaisdell Arena. In a morning of pageantry and humor, insights and inspiration, 1,700 fifth- and sixth-graders discovered they were far from alone.

The event, sponsored by HomeStreet Bank, was the 100th convention held by Adult Friends for Youth since 1990. The meetings are designed to ease the transition from elementary to middle school, a time when youngsters can go astray. Roughly 11,500 students, representing 80 percent of the state's public schools and various private schools, are attending 10 conventions across the state this month.

"This is recognized as a very difficult period for kids because not only are they moving up to a different school, it's a change from childhood to adolescence," said Sid Rosen, chief executive officer of Adult Friends for Youth, a nonprofit group.

"There's a lot of anxiety and fear about what's happening to their bodies. The idea of the convention is that there's nothing wrong with me, all these people are going through the same thing."

The students arrived at the arena to the strains of "When the Saints Go Marching In," from the U.S. Marine Forces Pacific Band, and ended the convention dancing in front of their seats to loud hip-hop from the band DisGuys. In between, they heard from inspirational speakers and students already in intermediate school, who fielded questions from the audience:

>> "Will middle school have a lot of gangs and drugs?"

"We don't have gangs. Only a small number of students are involved in drugs. If you hang out with the right friends, it won't be a problem."

>> "Do we have to take showers after PE?"

"It's not required, but we encourage it because sometimes you might smell."

>> "Are the teachers nice in middle school?"

"If you're nice to them, they're nice to you."

Comedian Frank De Lima kept the kids laughing with his skit featuring teacher "Ms. Kamaboko" and four student characters, highlighting the choices students will face.

"He gave us some ideas on how to act," Coloma said. "He said, 'Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. If you feel like a loser, don't take things so seriously, go out there and make new friends.'"

Shari Kaneshiro, a sixth-grade teacher at Hokulani Elementary, said she wishes there had been a similar convention back when she was in elementary school.

"It's good for the kids. It relieves some of the tensions," she said. "We all have these inner fears about what it's going to be like. This program addresses some of the insecurities."

Allan Silva, director of Positive Connections and a former basketball standout at Chaminade, held up a metal basketball hoop on stage, calling it a window of opportunity students could step through. Then he slipped it over the head of one boy, past his shoulders and on down to his feet. He followed up by having two students stand back to back, and showed how it slipped over them both.

Finally he called on "Uncle Frank" De Lima, whose girth the audience thought might well stop the hoop. But De Lima held up his hands, and the orange hoop slipped from his fingertips to his feet.

"This is a big window of opportunity," Silva said. "You are our future leaders. The key is to believe in yourself."