Principal Randal Tanaka encourages Corrales to take an active role in the school. Corrales sits on the school community council and the parent, teacher student organization. He also participated in creating the school's improvement plan and accreditation process.

"Our role is to be regular students so they can see our perspective," Corrales explained. Sometimes this means he has to do extra homework when teachers are testing different lesson plans, but he doesn't mind.

"He's one of the best kids we've had for a number of years," Tanaka said.

Corrales, who buses an hour each day to get from his Kapi'olani home to the Kalihi school, said if he didn't get involved in all these activities he might get bored.

He said it's important to him "to be a better person and to help others without being recognized or paid."

Recently, he helped coordinate the 20th anniversary of his school's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, which recognized every present and past inductee. "It was nerve-wracking, but we got over it," he said a few days after the ceremony. "It was very emotional."

Corrales serves as a coordinator for school service projects, cheering convalescent home residents with Christmas leis and entertainment, painting school benches and reading to elementary school students.

Although he still has to get through high school before he settles on a college major, Corrales is thinking about being a prosecutor.

"Sometimes I like to debate and argue with people," he said.

Who helped you? Corrales said his mom, his counselor and his leadership teacher have helped him get the work done and encouraged him to demonstrate strong character and leadership.

What advice would you give to other kids who would like to follow your example? "Get involved with things, help out with service projects, ask your teachers, and always have faith in yourself," Corrales said.