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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With highly anticipated summer premieres and notifications turned on to remind us when our favorite series’ newest episodes will be out, we spoke to a couple of University of Guam Tritons to see how their summer watchlists are shaping up.

The first streaming platform to head to was HBO Max as math major Kai Blas has already been making plans to watch all of Makoto Shinkai’s movies once summer hits. Not all of the director’s movies are available on HBO Max, but Blas suggests Weathering With You on the platform for anyone interested. “I wanna go through the summer watching all of his films, just so I can have a little more context of the evolution of his movies,” Blas shares, intrigued by someone he considers to be a director that everyone should be watching.

Keeping with the anime theme but heading to a different streaming service, Crunchyroll, Blas shares his intentions to watch an anime called Ranking of Kings. “I’ve been hearing a lot of good talk about it. I’ve yet to watch it,” Blas stated. “Everyone recommends it to me. A lot of people are saying it’s in the top ten on their [best anime] lists.”

For those with a Disney+ subscription, you can join UOG student Jewel Morrison in preparing for the upcoming Marvel movies coming out. Morrison, a second year psychology student, is itching to watch the newest installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which comes out this summer. “I’m gonna have to binge-watch all the movies before I watch this one…I’ve been wanting to,” Morrison declared following how she wants to make sure she hasn’t accidentally missed any major plot points before going in to see the new film.

Blas joined in on the Marvel conversation as he recalled that the sequel to Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is being released on June 2. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. We gotta watch it! The first one was great,” Blas expressed, inviting his fellow Tritons to get excited for Miles Morales’ Spider-Man.

The liveliest responses came from Morrison’s enthusiasm for Barbie, which is expected to be released on July 21. “I heard about it from one of my friends. I just watched the trailer a couple days ago,” Morrison explained. Even Blas shared his intent to see the film post seeing the trailer. “I’m pretty excited watching the trailer…I’m not too familiar with [the toy] but I grew up with cousins that had Barbies.”

Despite the seemingly positive interest, Morrison shares what she believes looks like a bad choice. “The only thing I don’t like about the movie – that I’m not excited for – is the fact that Ryan Gosling is playing Ken. Personally, I don’t think he has the looks for it.” Regardless of this opinion, Morrison’s eagerness to see the film hasn’t faltered.

The duo implores their fellow Tritons to make sure they head to the theaters with them to show support for these upcoming releases. If you aren’t set on heading to the theaters just yet, make sure you are still signed up to your favorite streaming service – or borrow a friend’s Crunchyroll, Disney+ or HBO account. Have fun sitting back and watching your favorite films without the worry of upcoming deadlines looming over you!

The post Netflix and Actually Chilling: Summer Watchlist appeared first on The Triton's Call.

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.

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.

If you are in need of some tried-and-true music blasting through your speakers, look no further than the UOG Summer Playlist 2023 to get you in the summer mood. 

Thanks to University of Guam students, the Tritons Call staff was able to generate a playlist based on their feedback.

To kick things off, students hand-picked songs that they enjoy listening to when they feel the warmth of the sun beaming down on them.

“The song that I want to play when I feel the warmth of the sun beaming on me is “Champagne Dial” by Col3trane,” said Marian Salenga, a major in psychology at the University of Guam. “It has a beat that makes me bump my head left right up and down.” 

Lorenzo Jorolan, a bio-medical major, recommended another banger.  

““Feels” by Calvin Harris, even though it’s a bit of an older song, stays as a staple in my summer playlist because of its “electropical” feel and catchy pre-chorus and chorus,” said Jorolan.

“Nothing but good vibrations when listening and singing along to this song with friends or family.”

Speaking of good vibrations, Kyra Perez, communication and philosophy major at the University of Guam, suggested “Island Under the Sun” by Weezer.

However, If you are feeling romantic this summer, then look no further than Salenga’s pick.

““Superlove” by Whethan ft. Oh Wonder, as the title suggests, enhances the feelings of summer love,” said Salenga. “The beautiful tune of Oh Wonder and the intricate drop created by Whethan just concocts absolute love waves in your brain.”

If you are not already feeling the summer love, take a listen to the next pick by Perez that will guarantee that you will fall in love this summer. 

“No summer lover, but “Closer” by The Chainsmokers has always had a summer love vibe,” said Perez.

Are you worried that the playlist will not have popular songs you can jam to? Jorolan has got you with his pick.

“Let us face it, whether you are into K-pop or not, “Cupid” by Fifty-Fifty is a song that when played everyone will sing along to and would be stuck in people’s heads for the next four days. There is no debate on that,” said Jorolan.

As if we were done with the conversation of summer love, Salenga drops another great recommendation that we guarantee all of you will know the lyrics to.

“One song I can guarantee my people would know is “LOVE” by Keyshia Cole. It is a timeless song that we can sing at any moment of life L-O-L,” said Salenga.

Perez suggests a more of a punk-rock tune that will surely get you screaming at the top of your lungs this summer.

““Sugar We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy is a classic pop-rock anthem,” said Perez.

Wrapping up our summer picks are songs that will make you want to roll down your windows and blast them through your speakers.

““Jaime All Over” by Mayday Parade, is a classic summer pop-rock song about going on adventures and just being in the moment,” said Perez.

Once you are done with pop-rocking, take a quick listen to Jorolan’s pick.

““Pepas” by Farruko is a song that my cousins and I listen to on road trips,” mentioned Jorolan. “It might sound like more of a meme when we listen to this song, but the feeling is just unmatched when the windows are down. Everyone is screaming and the inside of the car is just completely rowdy.”

Finally, we top the playlist off with Salenga’s personal favorite.

“A song that I just wanna blast with my windows down and belt out is “Jaded” by Miley Cyrus,” said Salenga.

Now that you are equipped with new summer bangers, do you feel ready to start your 2023 summer? Tune in to the playlist available on Spotify and DM to our Instagram, @tritonscall to get your music featured and added to the summer mix.

Link to the playlist:

The post DJ, Blow My Speakers Up: Tritons Make A Summer Playlist To Kick Off The 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.

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.

The post Unity in diversity appeared first on The Triton's Call.

We asked three University of Guam students on how they are feeling during midterms and the ways they manage their stress.

Waynuel Caraig, a Secondary Education Major and English Minor at the University of Guam shares his experience with midterms. 

“I would say the main cause of it is just the sheer amount of things I have to do on top of midterms. With six classes at school plus extra hours at work, it feels like I have so little time to really put as much effort as I would like into studying,” said Caraig.

“Personally, stress feels like an unbearable weight on my chest with a mix of panic,” said Raianne Quichocho, an Integrative Biology major at the University of Guam. “Sometimes it affects my abilities to complete daily tasks because I am so worried about the thing I am stressing about.”

Caraig and Quichocho  agree that attempting to balance their classes while studying for midterms causes them to experience immense amounts of stress, which is why it is important for students to take care of their mental health, especially after these challenging times.

“I really just sit back and enjoy the time I have before the next thing. Whether that be going out with friends, playing video games, skateboarding, or even just sitting down doing nothing. Once I press that last submit button, I just go back to life as normal,” says Caraig.

Though some students get to relax after midterms, others like Alyssa Dela Cruz, a Communications Major at the University of Guam are forced to utilize their time to prepare for the final half of the semester. 

“Ideally I sleep or do things I usually do not have time for, but there are usually things to prepare for the second half of the semester that could take up my time,” said Dela Cruz.

Caraig, Quichocho, and Dela Cruz shared a few insights into how other students can relax and unwind after the end of their midterms.

Quichocho suggests, “To take lots of breaks and make time to do what you love. Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, that short amount of time can really alter your mood. For example, going on a short walk can be a great stress reliever.”

“The best thing someone can do for themselves is just to build a really solid support system. Whether that be friends, family, co-workers, a significant other, etc. Other people can make a huge difference in helping you not go insane when you’re overwhelmed. While you should not rely on everyone else to solve your problems, it is nice to have a little help sometimes,” says Caraig.

Dela Cruz leaves students with an important message, “Make sure you’re making time for things that make you happy. Treat managing your mental health like it is a responsibility because it is.”

The post But Now We’re Stressed Out! Stress-Relieving Tips from Students appeared first on The Triton's Call.