We have all heard people who say that pets are “just” animals, as though they’re not important in our lives. These people have likely never owned a loyal dog or loving cat and their words could not be further from the truth. 

Most pet owners will know how wonderful owning an animal can be. They understand the companionship and how beautiful bonds can be formed between animals and humans.

“…I always have a companion and I never feel lonely or bored,” said Ronald Fuellas, a Communication major at the University of Guam.

There are a number of reasons to have a pet while in college. Students may be lonely, stressed, miss their family, or they may not have owned pets before and have always wanted one. 

“Yoshi is actually the first dog that I own alone and seriously take care of so we are both very attached to each other. I got him during the beginning of COVID and I was ending my freshman year at that time as well,” stated Mikaylla Alcairo, another Communication major at the University.

“It was comforting having a dog during that tough time in college because isolating at home was very hard for me. Outside of COVID, having a dog has been such a joy and stress relieving. My dog is fluffy so I love to cuddle with him when I am stressed,” Alcairo continued.

Joining pets and college, however, is not always a positive experience. As a matter of fact, it can occasionally be a dubious combination. 

“When Roofus was born, he would chew on things he’s not supposed to chew on. Clothes, internet cords…and my couch. There were not many cons besides buying pee pads and dog food. You just have to train them with doggy treats and they will listen to you,” mentioned Christian Enriquez, a Communication major.

Animals do not ask for much in life and most just need a warm, safe and sheltered place to live, as well as adequate food, water and exercise.

A pet will be there to greet students after a long day and is always available to lend a sympathetic ear or a furry shoulder to cry on. 

“The unconditional love they provide when you come home from a hard day of work! They are my babies so I always look forward to coming home,” said Enriquez.

Owning a pet will change your life and bring you so much love and joy. They help us to gain a sense of responsibility, show us unconditional love, and are always there when we need them.

The post Cuteness Overload: College and Pets, Let’s Talk About It appeared first on The Triton's Call.

It is staying in your residential vicinity while taking time off from work to visit local attractions and restaurants, and participate in leisure activities that can act as a “mental maneuver” to convince individuals that they are on an actual vacation. 

The concept of “staycation” has started to gain popularity around the world and people are beginning to hear it come up more and more these days, as individuals and families look for alternatives to air-traveling. 

“I choose to staycation because I enjoy being able to do things together as a group with friends and family,” said Lynn Galang, an Integrative Biology major at the University of Guam. “Not everyone has the luxury of being able to go off-island.”

If done right, a staycation can be really exciting and the perfect temporary solution for satisfying the desire to travel.

But not everyone prefers vacations over “staycations”. Take Britney Sison for instance, a Chemistry-Biology major at the University of Guam.

“I like staycations because I can focus on my mental and emotional health and work on all the things that I have been wanting to do. With vacation elsewhere, I am too preoccupied to explore all of the places and stress about how to get to those places and budget,” said Sison.

Staycations are incredible and can be ideal for those that are ready for a change of pace and need an escape from their real lives, want to go on vacation but do not want to blow their budget, and/or need to fully unwind, disconnect, and relax.

“Some of my favorite staycation activities include going to the beach, swimming, fishing, strolling around the island, binge watching television series, and sleeping,” stated Rita Taitague, a Nursing major at the University of Guam.

I hope this inspires individuals to get up off their feet, get out of their normal routines, take advantage of the amazing places around them, and to explore in spite of what might seem like a limited ability to travel. Still, there is so much to see, take in and experience!

The post I Rest My Suitcase: Reasons to Considers Taking a Staycation This Summer appeared first on The Triton's Call.

“Spring break is important for resting your body and mind. Students are able to focus their energy and regain it during the break. It’s important for students to have a break to avoid overloads of stress and anxiety from assignments and tests,” says Nicolette Perez, a student at the University of Guam.

Resting should not just be a break that students give themselves when they pass out at three in the morning because they had an essay due that night. 

Rest is giving yourself the time to focus on a situation that is completely stress-free.

In college, students are often so focused on the hustle of classes that they neglect their minds and bodies, depriving them of the rest that they need and deserve. 

Especially in the moments leading up to spring break, this culture of constant achievement can sweep them up and keep them awake for far longer than necessary.

“Usually, the pressure to balance my social life and school life affects my mental health.I get anxious when I have many different things on my mind, which is something that school contributes to greatly,” stated Caily Hernandez, a second year student at the University of Guam. “I do not really prioritize my social life when I have certain projects or tests coming up, which is why this spring break was really needed.”

It is important for students to give themselves time for sleep and for the activities that invigorate them. 

“Once on Spring Break, I was able to catch up on sleep, watch TV and play sports which helped ease my mind and allowed me to think about other things rather than school,” said Perez.

Without the worries of school, individuals can do anything they want like swimming, journaling, playing video games, or baking. They can return to hobbies that they have placed on hold while they prioritized school or they can attempt to try out something new.

Students have the opportunity to balance a healthy social life and give themselves the chance to spend time with their friends and family. 

They can give themselves a stress-free environment to socialize and relax over spring break and set themselves up for success when the semester begins again.

The post Rest, Relax, and Rejuvenate This Spring Break appeared first on The Triton's Call.

Mothers have traditionally been the primary caregivers for children, staying up all night to feed, change, tidy up after and care for them. The unwavering devotion of a “good” mother is supposed to be one of her defining qualities. 

This extended act of selflessness includes a lengthy 18 years of time during which the woman is expected to give up everything she might have wanted prior to becoming a mother. At least, that is what is typically expected of a mother.

However, despite having these social confines placed upon them by society, college moms are free to be who they are and do not have to suppress their own aspirations.

“My journey in higher education is completely about myself and my educational goals,” stated Kyra Perez, a communication and philosophy Major at the University of Guam. 

“It may sound selfish, but that is because in my case it is. I can quit school now and go find some entry level job and start making money, but I know I will not feel fulfilled with that route. Getting my college degree is an important step in my personal self-development,” continued Perez.

For other college moms, the choice to wait to pursue a college education later in their lives was their only option because it was what was best for them and their children.

“…I had already waited long enough to go back and for a chance at a better life. the sooner the better is what I prefer even though I am sacrificing time away from my babies. It is what will benefit my family in the long run that was on my mind when I took the first steps to go back to school,” said Ciana Rosario, a communications major at the University of Guam.

While pursuing a degree while your children are growing up can appear selfish to some members of society, it really is not. Your children pick up on what you do, they notice your sacrifices and successes and learn valuable lessons from watching the way their mothers take on life.

“I hope [my children] recognise the importance of higher education. A lot of people think going to college is not necessary to find a good job and lead a fulfilling life and I agree with that 100 percent. There is something about higher education, however, that can provide more than financial gain to a person,” said Perez.

“I hope my children will learn several things watching me go through school. One of them is seeing how the difficulties and sacrifices you make when you put off college until later in your life. Another is knowing what you want to do early on in life but also knowing that it’s okay if you don’t know it right away because it may come to you later, like it did for me,“ stated Rosario.

The post If Going to College Makes You a Bad Mom, Then Go with Your Bad Self! appeared first on The Triton's Call.

Behind-the-scenes labor is equally crucial. and here at the University, the coaches and staff focus on preparing student-athletes for their futures both mentally and physically. This article discusses the importance of behind-the-scenes labor for student-athletes during and after training. 

How Do You Handle Class and Studying?

Student-athletes, like the rest of us, frequently wake up exhausted, but the most successful ones—like the Lady Triton’s Volleyball Team in this story— learned a few life lessons while attending the University of Guam. 

They discovered that cultivating a dynamic mentality is the key to finding the “balance” that our culture obsesses over in terms of life, education, hobbies, and challenges. 

Rebecca Salas, a middle blocker and outside hitter for the Lady Triton’s Volleyball Team, revealed how she achieves and maintains balance in her life. 

“I focus on school when I am not on the court. On motivated days, I study before, between, and after my classes. When I know my coursework for the following week, I space out my work to allow myself free time for leisure activities like social media, shopping, and more volleyball,” said Salas.

How Do You Take Care of Yourself?

When you are a student-athlete, it can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of training and competition. But even though their training sessions are exhilarating, they still need to push themselves physically and mentally in preparation for times when they need to perform at their best.

If they want to succeed, practice isn’t something they should only do when it is convenient or expected of them; it needs to be a regular part of their routine.

One vital aspect of behind-the-scenes work is taking care of their bodies. 

Georgette Mateo, a middle blocker for the Lady Triton’s Volleyball Team, gave us her take on how she incorporates external preparation alongside her required training sessions.

“I make a conscious choice to not indulge in unhealthy beverages or food, especially if I know that I’m going to be doing any training or workout. I make sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day and try to consume more electrolytes to keep myself hydrated,” Mateo said. “However, I feel that it’s important to have a healthy relationship with food and if I want to seek out a burger from Wendy’s or McDonald’s, I will not feel bad about it.”

At the End of the Day, Why is it Important to Enjoy the Behind-The-Scenes Process?

As a student-athlete, it is important to remember that success is not just about winning or achieving your goals. It is also about taking pride in every step while you are endeavoring behind-the-scenes and embracing the process. If you can enjoy the journey and the fruits of your labor then you will find fulfillment in being an athlete.

The post Behind-The-Scenes: Lady Triton’s Volleyball Team appeared first on The Triton's Call.

“I am always on the move and trying to balance classes, homework, participating in student organizations, and hanging out with my friends,” said Acfalle.

Her mornings typically begin with her waking up and indulging in a homemade breakfast because it is cheaper than purchasing pre-made meals, but if she is rushing out the door then she will simply grab a granola/protein bar to go.

Acfalle is then dropped to school everyday at least an hour before her first class and starts her school day off in the computer center where she will either plan her agenda for the day or use the time to study and go over notes for her first class.

Once she is done with her first class, she then moves on to fulfill her responsibilities as a member of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), which is a comprehensive academic support program that assists college students by providing opportunities for academic advisement, mentoring, tutoring, and so much more!

After she completes everything for TRIO, Acfalle will head back to the computer center to complete assignments which usually consist of chapter readings, note taking, discussion questions, and studying. This takes up most of the time that she has before her next set of classes. 

“It is not easy to find a long period of time to dedicate to homework, so I always try to work on it in intervals over time before the due date,” said Acfalle.

When her last set of classes were over, she would sometimes stay back and wait for her ride which could take up to three hours. 

“I do not mind having to stay back because I can take advantage of this time by wrapping up the remainder of my assignments since my home can get pretty hectic sometimes,” Acfalle stated. “Working and studying in areas where other students are doing the same is super motivating to me!”

Eventually, her day concludes and Acfalle arrives home absolutely exhausted and ready to relax. She then eats dinner with her family to refuel her energy. 

“Listening to my favorite songs, having a good conversation with loved ones, and sleeping are a few of my favorite ways to relax after a busy day,” said Acfalle.

“Of course, not all of my days are as hectic as this one, as some are busier than others, but I wouldn’t want it any other way!”

The post A Day in the Life of a College Student: Alannah Acfalle appeared first on The Triton's Call.