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!

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From ensuring all necessary forms are completed to taking a moment to breathe it all in, two seniors, Marian ‘Mar’ Salenga and Mikaylla ‘Kaylla’ Alcairo, share their thoughts about it all as well as some advice for future graduates of UOG!

With so many other factors at play in her life right now, such as arranging to relocate post-graduation, Alcairo, double majoring in Communication and Psychology, shares that she had to make sure she began preparation for everything needed the semester prior to this to relieve her anxiety and suggests those who are graduating soon do the same thing.

Salenga, who is majoring in Psychology, shares what initially made her feel as though the process to graduate would be so unstable. “I’ve heard many unfortunate stories on the topic of not having enough credits to graduate…a little unsettling but exciting because I’m almost there,” she clarifies. “[E]verything’s completed, it’s just my final semester grades that matter right now!”

A highlighted portion for both girls revolves around those who surround and encourage them. “The people who are supporting me feel proud. It’s such a big accomplishment in our eyes, so I think we feel similar emotions,” Salenga states. She feels as though such a big accomplishment touches the lives of those around her as well as her own, especially her parents, who she acknowledges for continuing to take care of and support her. Alcairo agrees with the sentiment and says that although she did not think that having something to celebrate graduating would be important, all her friends and family are doing a lot to make sure they are able to show support.

There is just something about this step of life that is bittersweet to leave. Salenga and Alcairo know that they will miss being a student at the university. The pair of friends agree in their responses in that they know despite graduating, they are still learning and want to continue to be educated, even if they don’t continue with schooling. “I am enjoying the embrace of all this knowledge,” Salenga adds onto how she wishes she saw a higher appreciation towards education. 

The duo is also fond of their friendships and have found that growing at the university has also shed new light on how they view relationships. 

Alcairo affectionately shares the ones she believes she will be missing the most. “The people I met in my classes – that I have had several classes with. I formed a friendship with them, even if we don’t have the same friend groups outside of class, the people I always sit next to.”

Our two graduates ensured they left some words of wisdom for their peers who have yet to graduate:

“Show up…Follow your advisor. Make use of the things that the university offers.”

From, Kaylla

“My advice is to take advantage of the education. Use it. Challenge it. See the benefit in it. Focus on a good balance between work, fun, loved ones, and yourself.”

Best, Mar

The post Gearing Up for Grad appeared first on The Triton's Call.

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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The University of Guam is home to three stores and cafes that sell a variety of tasty food and drinks. They are strategically placed around UOG for the convenience of the vast number of programs offered at the University.

Crosswalk Cafe is located north of UOG attached to the School of Health building. They offer smoothies, teas, coffee, frappes, sandwiches, freshly cooked meals, and fruit bowls. The cafe has comfortable seating by the front of the store where students can sit down and enjoy their meal, do their work, or catch up with friends.

Gabrielle Gonzaga, a senior majoring in health science says her go-to meal on campus is the Crosswalk Burger and the Shangri La Iced Tea both from the Crosswalk Cafe.

 “I think everyone should try the Crosswalk Burger because they’re really good for their value and they come with fries! It is around $6.95 and it’s been my favorite since I first tried it,” she says. 

Crosswalk Cafe seems to be a top favorite as senior Andrew Hernandez shares his go-to at the Cafe.

 “I recommend trying the Chicken Special at the Crosswalk Cafe! It costs $7.25 and is great for when you have a short gap in between classes, but hungry enough for a meal,” he says. 

Costs are important to most college students. When it comes to cheaper alternatives, Addie Namelo, a junior majoring in business administration shares that he generally buys food out of campus.

“I genuinely enjoy Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag. It is an affordable option if you are on a budget,” Namelo says. 

As a business student, Namelo cannot resist the iced cold and refreshing drinks offered at the Campus Cafe– located at the School of Business and Public Administration building. 

“A drink that I would recommend on campus is the Hokkaido Milk Tea from the Campus Cafe. A regular size is $4.00 and a bigger size is only a 50 cents difference,” said Namelo. “I would also recommend the paninis, both the turkey and ham are both really good,” he says. 

The Triton Store is an option for ready-to-go hot lunches for students who are on the go. With their recent location to the Kubre building, they are located next to the Field House for athletes or for students and staff who drive by that side of the campus. 

For pre-orders to the Crosswalk Cafe, call (671) 735-0247. Follow Campus Cafe’s Instagram account @uogcampuscafe to stay up to date on specials and deals. For more information on the new and improved temporary location of the Triton Store, call (671) 735-2931.

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