Andria Macaraeg graduated in Spring 2014 from the University of Guam with a bachelors in science with an emphasis in physical education and school of health.

Macraeg was top of her class in the School of Education and was number six overall among the UOG Spring graduates.

After graduating from UOG, she was accepted to the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s master of science in education degree in adaptive physical education program on scholarship .  She graduated from UH-M in summer 2016.   

Few who know Macaraeg, however, may be aware that she is a survivor of adversity both physical and mental that had kept her from living a normal life.

From birth, Macaraeg had complications. She was born clubfooted. When she was 23 days old, she caught the pneumonia. Miraculously she survived. As she got a little older, Macaraeg had to have tubes inserted into her ears because she could no hear well. She was constantly experiencing infections. “My mom had to bring me off-island for them to finally figure out I wasn’t hearing what I was supposed to be hearing,” Macaraeg said.

Macaraeg says because of her hearing problems; she developed a speech and learning disability. As a result, “I was still in the special education program for most of my [school] career,” Macaraeg said.    

In the fifth grade, Macaraeg became ill. The doctor she was seeing could not figure out what was wrong. It wasn’t until her appendix was about to burst that the doctor figured out what was wrong. Maccaraeg had developed appendicitis. The organ burst right when the surgeon removed it. If the appendix had burst inside, Macaraeg would not be alive today. 

Despite all the hardships she had experienced, she managed to survive and thrive.   

“I think all my experiences made me stronger or the person I am today,” Macaraeg said.

From that point on, Macaraeg worked hard to got past her learning disabilities and past hardships.

At George Washington High School, Macaraeg was a gold medalist for hurdling on the track and field team. She met her husband.

Finally, she graduated number 10 of her class at GW and received the merit scholarship.

Today, Macaraeg hopes to improve and help as much as she can at Inarajan Middle School where she works.

She is currently the team leader for her department, leading the advance P.E. program, and trying to help lead the school for the Special Olympics this year.

“What I really want to do is start working at UOG,” she said. In the future, she is thinking of working on getting her Ph.D. or another masters.