If you could be anywhere else but here this summer, where would you go?
Summer 2023 is closely approaching University of Guam students who all have different plans when it comes to deciding how they want to spend it. While some prefer to sleep-in and stay home until the fall semester, others have a desire to travel to places far away.
Some Tritons who have travel experiences believe that they would rather spend the summer off-island rather than doing something here on Guam.
Anita Tman, a junior majoring in social work, is a travel enthusiast who has been to the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines to name a few.
“The first time I’ve ever traveled, it was to compete in sports competitions, but now I usually just travel to visit family members abroad or for fun,” she said. “The last time I traveled was last month to the Philippines with the social work program which allowed me to gain new experiences.”
Tman, if given the opportunity, plans to get an internship this summer or go to Washington where some of her family currently resides.
Despite planning to go visit her family in Washington, there is a particular place that she holds dear to her heart–a place that she dreams of being rather than here.
“If I could be anywhere else but here, I would want to go to Yap, where I’m from, because I haven’t been there since 2020,” she said. “I would love to go visit my family members who are in Yap and experience being home.”
Filomen Llegado, a sophomore majoring in pre-physical therapy, is also an experienced traveler and has been to both the Philippines and Nevada within the last year.
“I went to Nevada last December to spend the holidays with my older brother and his family,” she said. “While I was there, I experienced eating at places that could not be found on Guam such as Chick-fil-A and the famous Costco Food Court.”
Yet, Llegado noted that this summer she would prefer to be traveling across Europe than be here in Guam.
“If I could be anywhere else but here, I would want to go to Europe because recently I’ve been seeing travel reels on Instagram where they showcase the beauty of Italy and Greece,” she said. “I would like to go visit museums, go sight-seeing, and enjoy good food.”
However, Llegado explained that while she would love to travel again this summer, she feels the need to prioritize her education.
“Unfortunately, I must take summer classes this year so that I’ll be on track with my major, but I believe it will be worth it as I made this decision because it allows me to remain determined towards getting my college degree,” she said. “At the end of the day, I believe there will be many opportunities to travel after graduation.”
Ultimately, summer is right around the corner and students are looking forward to it no matter where they might be spending it.
Even though some students would prefer to be anywhere else but here, what is most important is that students take the time to rest and enjoy after all the hard work they’ve done this semester.