Kyra Perez

Kyra Perez, a Communication student, won the Award of Excellence at the 2023 Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts on her micro documentary called “Kia.”

The BEA Festival is an international digital media and broadcast competition for faculty and students. The Festival typically receives over 1,500 entries every year from over 300 schools.

Perez’s win allowed for UOG to move from 79th to 69th place in the festival’s overall ranking, but the win did not stop there. Perez says that her award signifies that UOG students are just as talented as the rest of the nation in the film industry. 

“This award means that we’re just as capable as other schools in the nation. UOG is so separated from the rest of the nation’s colleges, so it’s difficult to feel comparable sometimes,” Perez said. 

“Kia” is a story about how paddling athlete, Kiara “Kia” Quichocho finds resiliency through battling meningitis, a disease caused from contaminated waters from training to represent Guam. 

Although this is not an award Perez was expecting, she says that the award has inspired her to submit more films into future film festivals, and that it has reaffirmed that she is on the right career track.

When asked about what was next for Perez, she explains what she sees herself doing in the near future.

“Filmmaking is a difficult career choice. I have many ideas, but finding the time and resources to carry them out is difficult. For now, I’ll focus on school and hopefully get a few more projects under my belt before graduating,” she said. 

Christian Gyles Ramos

Christian Gyles Ramos, a Business Administration student, received the 2023 Truman Scholarship award. 

UOG was established when Harry Truman was president, making this a living memorial for his contribution and support to the University. Ramos was dubbed the 20th UOG student to receive this $30,000 award to pursue his graduate studies. 

Out of 705 applicants from around the world, Ramos was one out of 62 that were selected to receive the scholarship. 

Ramos says this scholarship gives him the motivation to continue his graduate studies. “To know that I am able to represent Guam and the Triton spirit is one of my greatest and biggest honors,” he said.

Because the scholarship application was a rigorous process with essay questions and constant conferences with an advisor, Ramos says he did not expect to be one out of 62 applicants to receive the award.

“There were even times where I wanted to step down from the process, but my Truman advisor, Dr. Gena Rojas along with my friends provided me the motivation and support that I needed,” Ramos explained. 

Ramos shares how rewarding it felt to have the financial burden relieved from his shoulders. 

“My parents are my biggest inspirations and motivations because even with their struggles of having to provide for me and my nine siblings, they took on multiple jobs, worked day and night just so we can have a roof to live under, food on the table, and proper education,” Ramos said. 

Ramos is just like an average student at UOG, who works hard everyday to get through his classes. This award excites him to move forward with his future aspirations. 

“There are also other opportunities such as leadership conferences and professional mentorship which will help me as I become a future leader and public servant,” he said. 

Ramos will be on his way to the Truman Scholars Leadership Week in May which will be held in Liberty, Missouri. In this conference, he will get the chance to meet the fellow Truman Scholars from around the world. 

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1. Exercise

Workout or do some sort of physical activity. Now is the time to burn those excuses away by getting on a treadmill or walking around the scenic views of Tumon. By scenic I mean staring up at the iconic whale peeking out of Sea Grill.

Studies show that walking at least 20 minutes a day may reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 30 percent. As you may know (or not), heart disease is one of the leading health-related deaths on Guam. Do yourself a favor by getting rid of the Spam in the grocery list and replacing it with a nice walk!

2. Learn to Cook

Learning to cook can be a hit or miss, but it never hurts to try. It will only hurt if you burn yourself. You are already bored enough to get to this point, so might as well do it. If you are a beginner, start easy. Duh. My favorite easy recipes when I was learning how to cook were Instant Noodles. Today, I cooked boiled eggs. #Progress. 

3. Go Geocaching

Did you know that Guam actually has geocaching? Geocaching is a fun way to get an easy 20 minute walk in your day. The Geocache app allows for you to find hidden objects around the island through hints and clues that fellow geocachers post. If you are feeling mysterious, outdoorsy, and up for an adventure, this is the activity for you!

4. Go Thrifting

Salvation Army, a popular thrift store on Guam, has a warehouse located in Tamuning that is filled with pre-loved clothing, gadgets, handbags, and many other vintage items. You can literally find an old DS or GameBoy in there on a lucky day. If you are a shopper, this place is a must-try experience. 

5. Plan a Party

Planning a party can be hectic, but it does not always have to be that way. Planning a party should be as fun as the party. And if it is not, then you are not doing it right. It does not even have to be anything big! Get someone to do it with you and invite your friends and/or family. If you do not have any, go back to number one and re-read this story.

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Today, employers question whether a typical college degree equips students with the soft skills needed in the workplace—problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.

We asked graduating students within the University of Guam, to share their opinions on the struggles of seeking employment opportunities.

Many undergraduates are beginning their transition from youth dependence to adult independence—and for the vast majority, this involves finding work to help them stay afloat. 

Has the university equipped them well enough to comfortably seek and secure employment?

“With both the junior and senior internship courses I have taken, I have been able to network with many different people from various fields of work. Therefore, I definitely think UOG has prepared me for the next chapter of my life in finding a career,” said Brandon Phillippe Cruz, a communication major at the university.

This is not the case for everyone. Mikaylla Nicole M. Alcairo, a psychology and communication major at the University of Guam, shares her perspective.

“To find a job, I would say that UOG has equipped me well enough, but I feel that if I apply for a job I would not be the best candidate,” said Alcairo. “I think that a lot of times employers rely on experience and I feel like I am somewhat lacking,” said Alcairo.

Competitiveness in a student’s major can hinder a potential undergraduate’s opportunity to attain a position once they graduate.

“I believe my major is competitive to a degree when looking at essential roles in society,” said Breanah Francisco, a communication Major at the University of Guam.  

“There are many employers and organizations that rely heavily on communication which affects every aspect of our lives,” continued Francisco.

Nathaniel Dulla, a communication major, under the public relations track, shares how he feels about competition within a major.

“I feel like because of these different routes students could take in their career in the future, there is competition. But I would say that there is always going to be competition in any field of work you want to get into,” said Dulla.

To get a head start in seeking employment opportunities, these students shared tools and resources that they use for networking and job searching.

“I use job websites like USAjobs.com and indeed.com to look for jobs. They have great features that can help individuals create a resume and offer assessments that they can put on their resume. I also have a LinkedIn account so that helps me to network as well,” recommended Alcairo.

While most recommend the use of social media applications, Cruz shares a different approach.

“The skills of public speaking and human interaction are just a few things I have developed over time throughout the courses I have taken within my program,” mentioned Cruz. “I find myself more comfortable speaking to and in front of people in a much more confident approach.”

Fighting through the last few weeks of the semester, these undergraduates share the same tenacity to finish the semester strong and look forward to graduating in May 2023. 

The post Ain’t It Fun? Living In The Real World: The Struggle Of Communication Undergraduates Seeking Employment Opportunities appeared first on The Triton's Call.

With these statistics, UOG has become a well-diverse environment, especially being the island’s only University. 

As both ethnic backgrounds are diverse and unique, there are many reasons to celebrate and honor the pride students take in their culture. In this story, we look at how students perceive diversity in UOG and what barriers they may face with underrepresentation on campus. 

Riko Ichikawa, a freshman Accounting major at UOG defines diversity as acknowledging that everyone brings unique perspectives and experiences to the table. “It means valuing differences rather than trying to erase them,” she said.

Ichikawa is Japanese, but was born and raised on Guam. UOG was a natural choice for her. She believes that UOG does well in honoring and respecting the diverse cultures on campus through cultural events and student organizations. However, she does feel the need for UOG to improve representation in curriculum, faculty, and staff.

There are moments on campus where students feel “talked down upon” by some faculty and staff. Believe it or not, it happens quite often. Some faculty and staff treat students differently because they are “kids.” 

Students are often judged by the way they act or do things on campus. As a result, some students feel constrained and develop the feeling of not belonging. 

“Coping with the challenge of feeling underrepresented can be difficult, but some strategies that may help include seeking support from student organizations that share your background or identity,” Ichikawa said.

She notes the importance of speaking up. “Remember that you have a valuable voice, even if it’s not always recognized by others,” she said.

Chauntae Quichocho, a senior majoring in Chamoru Studies for Education admits that she has had experience of feeling underrepresented in some of her classes. “I do feel that there needs to be more local professors here on campus to be able to relate to the kinds of cultures, traditions, and values of the students,” she said.

With UOG professors also being culturally diverse, they come from different ethnic backgrounds with their own traditions and practices. Some professors may not understand the struggle that students face outside of their academic life to make ends meet. 

On top of student’s studies, some work part-time jobs to help pay for bills. Some are even the “breadwinner” or “head of the household” in their families as a working-student. 

Although the focus of the faculty is to ensure excellence in academics, students feel that the need for a stronger accommodation in understanding the life behind the academic door must be represented. 

To overcome this battle, Quichocho talks to a mentor who she says is working hard to ensure that others do not have to experience the same feeling. 

How are students finding success in the midst of the cultural barriers?

Oxaly Orichiro, a senior in UOG says that her motivations outside of campus brings her to the mindset to keep going.

She spends her time outside of campus hanging out with her family and friends, embracing the moments she shares that bring her closer to her spirituality. 

“I don’t really focus on challenges. There will always be challenges, I’m sure of that. I focus on the positive and getting through with my classes,” she said. Orichiro is a Chuukese student seeking a degree in public administration. 

UOG continues to strive for unity in diversity with being the only university on Guam. Students stay resilient with the challenges and still continue to seek success for themselves.

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In this story, college students from the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are revealing their secrets on how they pass an exam, bounce back after failing one, how to have confidence, and how to pretend like you know what is going on in class. 

To what extent are students pushing themselves to pass an exam with a desirable grade? Loreto Paulino, a senior at the University of Guam majoring in Chemistry says his secret to passing an exam is using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence system. 

He uses AI to create a test based on his notes. “It’s like having a personal teacher who doesn’t judge me on my bad habits,” Paulino said.

In the many wins that college students achieve, they also face failure. Paulino shares how he is able to bounce back from failing an exam. 

“The key is to remember that failing an exam is not the end of the world,” he said.

When asked about how he built his confidence during his time as a graduating senior, Paulino says to imagine yourself as a Hollywood star. 

“You are a Hollywood star and the classroom is your stage. Your classmates are the supporting actors, but you’re the leading role,” he said. 

STEM students like Nathan Paz, a junior majoring in Biology under the biomedical track emphasizes that his secret in taking in the defeat of the result of a bad exam is to allow yourself to grieve. 

“Go out for a meal or relax while processing the exam score. Don’t beat yourself over it. A failed exam is only one moment in your entire college career,” Paz said. 

“Women in STEM” is a popular phrase that highlights the impact that women have in a rigorous field of study. Hilary Tirazona, a proud woman also majoring in biomedical, says her secret to passing an exam is time-consuming, soul-crunching and tedious, but it has never let her down, yet.

It is the traditional way of taking notes, reading, making a study guide, and quizzing yourself.

“Confidence is something that is acquired. It doesn’t stem from thinking that you know everything, but rather, from knowing that you have done all that you can and have given your best effort,” Tirazona said. 

Now that all the secrets of failure and success have been revealed by some students, what do you do when you are in your fourth class of the day and have no idea what is going on?

Tirazona says that it is all about making that body language connection with your professor. “Lock eyes with your professor, smile, nod, and then type. Just type anything to make it seem like you are writing down everything they just said,” she said. 

The bottom line is that you are not alone in this college journey of success. Help is offered wherever you may go, and it does not hurt to accept failure throughout the journey. 

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Jeresa Camacho, a junior majoring in business administration defines her college experience as a “home away from home.” 

“I had expected a great amount of studying, many parties, and getting a job while being able to join many clubs as a full time student. I expected sleepless nights of studying and living on campus,” Camacho said.

In reality, Camacho spent half of her college life in front of a screen in Zoom Classes due to the shutdown of face-to-face classes from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I couldn’t live in the dorms and couldn’t hang out with friends,” she said.

To bounce back from this situation, Camacho says that networking with her peers became her escape from reality. 

“I have been able to live up to some of my expectations such as networking with many student organizations, being a part of study sessions, and hanging out with friends off campus,” she said. 

Camacho generally spends about four hours on campus everyday. During the time that she is on campus, she is occupied with classes, study groups, and her role in many student organizations.

Maeyah Soberano, a junior majoring in biomedical, says that she believed her college experience to be just like a “high school mentality.”

“My general expectations of college life were coffee every single second, mental breakdowns, constant studying, a ton of homework, being burnt out, not having a social life, having a study group, but a lot of fun activities held by the College,” Soberano said. 

Quickly, Soberano was faced with the reality that college did not fit her “high school mentality” expectation.. “I accept that some days are going to be stressful and some days are not going to go my way. It is okay to cry,” she said. 

Soberano also says that she pictured her college life to be sipping a caramel macchiato, but in reality she is at home drinking water and watching YouTube.

“College is a whole other level. I value taking breaks and preventing burnouts to fully eliminate the mentality of high school,” Soberano said. 

On the contrary, Jean Bactad, a junior business administration student shares that her college experience is predominantly living up to her expectations.

“I expected my college life would be filled with adventures like last-minute plans and the fulfillment of learning valuable information in my classes,” Bactad said. 

Bactad says that she challenges herself to be in an overload because her expectation is a feeling of fulfillment for her future. She keeps herself busy by meeting up with friends to do homework and refueling herself through overpriced iced coffee. 

Bactad generally spends long hours on campus due to the spread of classes from day to night. 

With many wins, comes many loses, but with many loses, comes greater wins. College can be a handful to go through, but with a bigger mentality and positive surroundings, it can produce a more feasible reality. 

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According to UOG’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, of 122 alumni that graduated in the Spring of 2020 that received a bachelor’s degree, 54% report working a full-time job 12-months after their graduation.

This is a 3% increase from the year prior.

Furthermore, of 77 alumni, 84% received employment for a job related to their major in that year.

Finding work after graduation

Despite a high number of alumni receiving work related to their degree, some students struggle to find work.

Breanna Perez, who received a bachelor’s degree in Pacific Island Studies with an emphasis in CHamoru Studies in the Fall of 2021, applied to several organizations in the private and public sectors.

Like other students at the University, Perez utilized student loans to help pay for her tuition. Now she looks for a feasible solution to pay it back.

“The main difficulty I have right now is finding an entry level job in my field that is open,” said Perez.

She mentions that her lack of work experience related to her field reduces her qualifications in the jobs listed.

Perez owes over $25,000 in student loans. To her benefit, the U.S. Department of Education extended the federal student loan payment pause till Aug. 31 of this year.

She currently works as a part-time, retail cashier to temporarily support herself while she searches for a full-time job related to her field.

Mason Obispo, an English and Philosophy double major who also graduated in the Fall of 2021, has a different perspective on his situation.

He works as a part-time sales associate, cashier, and stock person at Calvin Klein since 2018 throughout his time in college and plans to find career growth within the company, utilizing his skills he learned from each degree.

“So the current work that I do is customer service and going to school for the past four years for [a literature degree] and then picking up a philosophy degree, I feel that there are skills that are learned that [I] can apply to customer service and I guess the whole operations in regard to retail the first,” said Obispo. “One is the ability to articulate things and to analyze them uh this is something that you learn strongly in literature in the ways that you read something and you’re able to kind of go about and deriving a meaning of something. In a similar sense, philosophy trains you to be analytical and to justify your claims and stuff like that and when it comes to

collaboration with management or with other coworkers and becomes extremely easy and in a good way like here you can your message across and have it to where you’re not jumbling everything.”

Beyond his work at Calvin Klein, Obispo is a music producer for several local artists.

Guam’s labor force at a glance

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted Guam’s labor force and local economy. The pandemic put many residents temporarily out of work for several months due to island wide lockdowns and travel restrictions.

According to the Government of Guam’s Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor statistics, in 2020, the average unemployment rate for that year of the civilian labor force was 18.2%.

The unemployment rate reached its lowest in Sept. 2021 at 8.1%.

In Mar. 2021, there were 60,680 employed workers across all sectors.

Guam’s largest source of employment is the private sector. Providing over 40,000 jobs for the island’s working population. Within this sector, tourism is the island’s leading industry.

Although more recent statistics on Guam’s employment situation are not yet available, increases in the tourism industry should be expected as the island’s legislation on COVID-19 restrictions ease with lowering number of cases.

For the University of Guam’s Students

With many students entering the University directly from high school, the emphasis for students to actively build their resume and build career opportunities should be prioritized in some programs according to Perez.

“With this sort of idea or initiative it would allow students to find themselves through these opportunities for job security in the future as well as take preventative measures of possible changing of degree programs,” said Perez.

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The theme of this year’s Charter Day is “Charting a course for New Horizons”, a focus on the continued progress of the University’s work in academics, community service, and research from faculty, students and alumni.

As a part of the Charter Day celebrations, the UOG Marine Laboratory hosted 30-minute guided tours of the laboratory’s facilities and showcased some of the marine life that inhabit Guam’s reefs.

The University of Guam Marine Laboratory

The Marine Lab is an established research unit of UOG comprised of graduate and undergraduate students and faculty researchers. The University established the Marine Lab in 1970 whose mission is to provide research work on marine biology specific to the region of Guam.

Marine Lab Research

In the past decade, the UOG Marine lab made new discoveries in marine biology.

In late Nov. 2021, Marine lab researchers discovered four new Crustose Calcifying Red Algae species. Results of their research is published in the journal PLOS ONE.

According to researchers, Matthew Mills and Tom Schils, CCR algae are integral to coral reef construction.

Mills and Schils named the four species of CCR algae, Ramicrusta adjoulanensis, R. asanitensis, R. labtasiensis, and R. taogamensis, after the locations they were found: Adjoulan Point, Asanite Cove (First Beach), the seawater intake channel behind the UOG Marine Lab, and Taogam Point.

More recently, Dr. David Combosch, Associate Professor of Population Genetics and Chair of UOG’s Graduate Biology Program, visited the Rota, Saipan, and Tinian from Mar. 10 to Mar. 27 alongside several graduate students in a sampling expedition of the region’s coral species.

The purpose of this study is to compare population genetics between the species on Guam and the CNMI.

Mikay Reuter, a Graduate Student Assistant for the Graduate Biology Program, collected samples of staghorn Acropora corals.

“Corals, especially staghorn corals, are facing increased rates mortality due to global and local environmental stressors,” said Reuter. “If we know how much genetic diversity there is in Guam and [the] surrounding islands we can better determine what management and conservation strategies should be put in place to protect coral that is left form future stressor events.”

Similarly, the UOG Marine Lab offers graduate students unique research opportunities.

Leilani Sablan, a UOG graduate student in Biology, boarded the Ocean Exploration Trust research vessel, EV-Nautilus, as an ocean science intern to assist researchers in a deep-sea exploration expedition spanning the Central Pacific.

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The theme for this year was “Charting a course for new horizons.” As the island opens again, so does the road to a new, safer approach to Charter Day for UOG.

The festivities kicked off Thursday, Mar. 31, 2022, with a limited in-person ceremony that was live-streamed on UOG’s Facebook Page. Attendees this year were also required to register with Eventbrite and digitally sign in before entering the festival.

UOG implemented additional safety precautions on the day of the event, such as event staff wearing masks.

The event was held in a perimeter within UOG’s central courtyard, with security set up at different points to redirect attendees to the proper sign-in tent.

After signing in, attendees could enjoy festivities, including food trucks like UOG staple Hooker’s Fusion, live musical performances from local bands, and various activities held by student clubs and vendors.

Gabriella Prelosky, Treasurer/PRO for UOG’s Marine Opportunities/Nature Association (MONA), has had the opportunity to attend Charter Day both as an attendee and now as a member of a student organization.

She notes the difference in the size of the event compared to previous years’ celebrations.

“It is a lot smaller, which is understandable per COVID guidelines, but there are a lot of really interesting clubs and food trucks that I haven’t seen before at other Charter Days,” Prelosky comments.

Her club runs a touch-tank for echinoderms, which features various sea cucumbers, sea sponges, and sea plants.

Kieran Rios, a member of the Agriculture and Life Science Club, states that aside from changes like the masks, the same community and crowds are back to celebrate. “The support is phenomenal,” Rios comments. “Everything looks kind of the same.”

Rios’ club has several kinds of plants for sale and a game of cornhole. Those who tested their skills got a smaller plant for participating and had the opportunity to win more plants. If a player managed to get all five beanbags into the hole, they had their choice of a large plant to take home.

Games like these make Charter Day fun for students and families as well.

One attendee and her young son have been waiting for two years to return to Charter Day. Each year, she picks him up from school, and the two get some food, play some games, and enjoy the festivities together.

 “I think it’s great, and I hope they continue this year after year again,” she states.

Whether it’s a tradition or one’s first Charter Day, attendees look forward to the fun the day can hold. One of the event staff spent his first Charter Day helping others sign in. “I’m ready to feel the energy everyone here can provide,” He stated.

Despite the smaller scale of the event and safety precautions, Charter Day remains a day of food and fun that every UOG student should participate in at least once. “I believe they should experience it way more than once,” Rios states. “And even after you graduate, regardless if you don’t even go to UOG, you should come down to Charter Day. It’s an amazing experience.”

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Reported by: Cianna Yanger

The Guam Department of Education launched Operation Guardian, a short-term measure launched on Jan.13 to assist schools dealing with staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 and the recent surge of the Omicron variant.

According to GDOE’s Weekly Covid Dashboard, as of Wednesday, February 9, 2022, there are 309 new cases and 328 active cases across GDOE’s schools. About 13.7 percent of these cases are GDOE employees.

Every morning, schools in need of assistance request for help, after which staff from GDOE’s central office are placed in response.

Many of the staff sent to assist do not have backgrounds in education, teaching, and classroom management experience.

Jane Doe, a GDOE educator, explains how Operation Guardian helps from a teacher’s perspective.

“I think it’s a better solution than having teachers absorb the classes – but I do think that it’s a double-edged sword because you do have some people that aren’t trained to be teachers in the classroom,” Doe comments.

Another big challenge and concern is to make sure protocols are followed for both students and staff. According to GDOE’s Weekly Covid Dashboard, key mitigation measures that have been put in place include mandatory mask requirements, physical distancing, seating charts, promoting vaccination, and facilitating vaccination clinics for students through the ages of five to 11.

As of Wednesday, February 9, 2022, only 27.5 percent of those within the five to 11 age group are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the vaccination rate of those within the 12-17 age group is 80.9 percent.

Parents like Celia Dydasco understand that while it cannot be helped, she disagrees with the idea of placing untrained staff in the classroom. Schools should stay open – but staff and students alike must stick to protocols.

“I have nothing to worry about except for the fact that – you know – people are sending their kids to school sick,” Dydasco states. “That’s my main concern. If your child is sick, keep your kid home.”

While one of the main benefits of staying home is safety, students lose out on the important social interaction a classroom setting provides. In-person classes allow them to work with and learn alongside their peers as well as allow teachers to assist them should they be struggling.

For students like Aiden Dydasco, being back in person has been a welcome change.

“Pros are I get to see my friends, and I’m not as distracted,” Dydasco says. Aside from being required to wear a mask, the fact he can interact with his friends far outweighs his experience of attending school online.

As of Tuesday, February 1, 2022, GDOE has reported a lower number of central staff being deployed for Operation Guardian. While Operation Guardian keeps schools open, Doe believes this should be kept as a contingency plan and not a regular response to staffing shortages during emergencies.

“I honestly think it should be kept as a last resort,” Doe says. “Not only you’re having a high turnover of different subs – but you’re disrupting those people’s original jobs. But I think it’s a better idea than having to have teachers absorb classes in an already full class.”

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