The University of Guam Tritons can be seen serving their community in many ways. However, some Tritons spend their time serving the general and Triton community.
AmeriCorps Guam Memorial Hospital (GMHA)
Arielle Candelario is a third-year student majoring in biology and philosophy who volunteers with AmeriCorps Guam Memorial Hospital.
Candelario’s heartfelt experience with community service began when she helped found an organization called the “Walking Nuns” while attending the Academy of Our Lady of Guam to help decrease the homeless population in the area.
“We would go out during lunch to give them food,” she said. “It was hard sometimes because eventually these people who you form connections with would become your friends. It was hard seeing the situations they were in and accepting that you’re doing all you can.”
For Candelario, helping others in the community helped her learn how to be a leader.
“As a student, it was through these community service organizations that helped me become a leader,” she said. “I always doubted my ability to lead people until the moment that I was asked if I wanted to make a difference by forming an organization with others.”
UOG Triton Changemakers (TCM)
UOG Triton Changemakers is an organization that established itself at the start of this semester and aims towards providing aid for students and helping community members in the process.
Marina Babauta, a second-year health and physical education major, is the special events committee chairperson for TCM.
Babauta expressed her initial interest in TCM. “I think the reason why I like it so much is because of my personality,” she said. “If I’m helping someone, I always have a reason to keep going and feel aligned with my purpose.”
For Babauta, who is passionate in helping anyone in any way she can, believes that being successful depends on how much of an impact you can make.
“[For TCM] and myself, [success] is all about what kind of change we’ve brought about in the community,” she said. “It’s all about the quality of the change and the impact of it.”
Babauta expressed that a trait she’s developed from community service would be courage and leadership.
“As a changemaker you always have to look for ways to do something differently,” she said. “It’s being able to ask the question ‘Am I making an impact?’”
She added, “To be a leader you must take care of your people and being a part of TCM has taught me that ‘iron sharpens iron’ meaning that if I want my people to be sharp then I have to be sharp too,” she said.
Community service comes in many forms, whether it be social welfare or promoting wellness in our community, and UOG Tritons continue to make a difference in the lives of others.