My Top 5 Moments of 2025 - Arianna Huerta-Dagam by Arianna Huerta-Dagam

Graduation - May

ahuer2911_3 — 2026-01-08 19:12:00 UTC

Graduation was one of my top moments of 2025. When I graduated, I was relieved to leave middle school and go on summer break finally. This moment was significant because it was not only a major milestone in my life, but also memorable. Graduation was an important moment for me because it reminded me of how much I had grown, the challenges I had overcome, and the memories I had made along the way. I learned many new things both academically and personally during middle school. I also made friendships that I will always remember. Although middle school was sometimes challenging, it helped prepare me for the future. Walking across the stage made me feel proud of myself. My family’s support made the moment even more special. Overall, graduation was an important experience that I will never forget.

Karate - May

ahuer2911_3 — 2026-01-09 04:29:01 UTC

When I joined my karate dojo in May, I was nervous, but I enjoyed being back in karate. I was kicked out of my old dojo (do not ask), so I hadn't been doing karate for almost a year, which isn't good. After rejoining a new dojo, it felt weird because I was in a different environment, with different people, and this dojo was in West LA. This was a significant moment for me because I was not only going back into karate, but I was also learning a different style of Martial Arts. As the weeks went by, I soon became more comfortable with the new dojo and the people. Even though the style and techniques were different from what I learned, I found it exciting, in a way, to challenge myself and learn something new. Training again helped me rebuild my confidence and discipline. Being in a new environment pushed me out of my comfort zone and actually try to push myself to enjoy being over there. Overall, returning to karate taught me that growth often comes from starting over.

Church Summer Kick-Off - July

ahuer2911_3 — 2026-01-09 04:46:24 UTC

Summer break was a great moment of 2025 for me, but I think my summer kick-off at church was more memorable over the summer. Summer kick-off was one of the greatest moments because I had actually done something over the summer, talked to people, and made some friends. I think it was a great experience I had at church. Not only did I have a great time, but I also felt like it helped draw me closer to God's word and actually want to spread it to others. If I had to pick my favorite part of this event, it would be at the beach. It was one of my favorite moments because of how enjoyable it was to swim in the water and do devotionals at the bonfire. To me, this event alone was a very special moment of my life and of 2025. This experience will always stay with me because it brought me joy and faith. It showed me how meaningful it was to connect with others and grow closer to God. Summer kick-off will always be a special memory I carry with me from 2025.

Belt Test - December

ahuer2911_3 — 2026-01-09 05:19:14 UTC

Another memorable moment of 2025 was my karate belt test. This would be one of my top moments because it was an intense moment in my karate journey. Despite only being a couple of months, I found out that I was obligated to test for orange belt. It was a very tense moment in 2025 for me because this would put all of my training into this to see if I would pass. It felt very nerve-racking while doing the test since I was being tested on many things. However, the most important part of this belt test was kata. Kata is a pattern of movements practiced repeatedly to develop skills, discipline, and automaticity, originating in martial arts. This part of the test was the most important because it is crucial in belt testing since it shows the technical foundation, muscle memory, focus, and understanding of core principles, acting as a solo demonstration of skills required for advancement. It proves a student can execute fundamental techniques with power, precision, and correct body mechanics, ensuring they are ready for higher levels. This is why my belt test was my top moment of 2025, because of how stressful and intense it was.

Traditional Holiday Trip - December

ahuer2911_3 — 2026-01-09 05:36:29 UTC

My last top moment of 2025 was my annual trip with my mom and my brother. Not only is it tradition, but it's always memorable when we go to Julian, San Diego. It's one of my favorite memories that my siblings and I share because it's really the only time we get to be together. It is always fun to go, and I always look forward to the trip after Christmas. My brother and I always have fun, whether we're on the way to or at Julian, because I enjoy being with him and spending time with him always reminds me even though he's goofy, I still love him. This time, we went to try out a different restaurant, explore different areas, check out shops, and stayed at a motel. This would probably be the only time I spend the most time with my brother or all my siblings. Being on our annual trip with my brother is always fun because we enjoy every moment we have together. At the same time, it is special because these memories are important for how rare it is to have that time with them. This is another special moment of every year I have and will forever always memorable to my family.