As summer approaches, University of Guam students are looking for ways to spend their days outdoors. Hiking is a popular option among students which allows them to experience Guam’s diverse ecosystem. Several UOG students who are avid hikers have explored a variety of trails on the island and shared some of the best hiking spots for college students.

Antoni Badowski, a sophomore majoring in biology, recommends Mt. Lam Lam for those looking for a challenging yet rewarding hiking trail. The trail is about five miles round trip and takes hikers through some pretty dense vegetation and rocky terrain.

“But once you get to the top, you’re rewarded with some amazing panoramic views of the island and the ocean. There’s even a guestbook at the summit that you can sign.” Said Badowski.

For those looking for a less strenuous hike, Tarzan Falls is a popular choice. It’s about 2.5 miles round trip and takes hikers through the jungle to a beautiful waterfall. Once hikers reach the falls, they can take a refreshing dip in the pool or relax on the rocks and enjoy the scenery. Badowski cautions that hikers should be careful around the falls because the rocks can be slippery and the current can be strong.

Jose Simpson, a sophomore also majoring in biology, has hiked several trails on the island, including Tarzan Falls, Tarzan Pools, and lower and upper Sigua Falls. Simpson particularly enjoys the trail to Lower Sigua Falls, which he described as “a fun hike, fairly hard, but once you get there, it’s incredibly beautiful.” Simpson found out about these trails from a book called “The Best Trails of Guam.”

Angelo Paule, a recent UOG graduate, recommends the Sella Bay and Tarzan Falls hikes and suggests checking out the Guam Boonie Stompers on Facebook for information on upcoming hikes. Paule advises hikers to always go with a friend for safety reasons, but also because it’s nice to have someone to talk to while hiking.

 To prepare for a day of hiking, Paule suggests packing a change of clothes, towels, slippers, and plastic bags for dirty clothes, as well as two filled 32-oz water bottles, sunscreen, and snacks. He also recommends getting a good night’s sleep beforehand.

While hiking is a great way to spend time outdoors, Paule believes it’s also a significant way to connect with the land. 

“I also think it’s just unique as a way of connecting and really knowing the land in a way that’s not super common with a lot of people in the modern day,” he said.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, there are plenty of trails to explore on Guam. It’s essential to research the trail, pack plenty of essentials, and always let someone know where you’re going. As Badowski advises, “start small and work your way up.” Happy hiking!

The post Get out There!: From Homework to Hiking Trails appeared first on The Triton's Call.

The Campus Cafe, located on the first floor of the School of Business and Public Administration has been a staple option for food and drink for students for many years, however, the University of Guam recently made the decision to permanently close the cafe. While this may be disappointing news for many students, the impact that the cafe left on the campus community cannot be ignored.

Di Xiong, the owner of Campus Cafe, shared his thoughts on the matter in an interview: 

“We’ve been open for almost eight years. I think being able to give the students something they need to help them get through their day is important and I think we’ve done that very well.”

Xiong expressed his love for the students and the community and stated that if it were up to him, the cafe would stay forever. “I don’t know what plans UOG has for the space, but it wasn’t our choice. If it was up to us, we would just renew and keep it going.”

The Campus Cafe was more than just a place to grab a sandwich or a cup of coffee, but a place where students could gather, study, and socialize. 

It provided a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere where students could take a break from the stresses of college life. The cafe was also known for its friendly staff, who were always happy to chat with the students and make them feel at home.

Jamar Nucum, a freshmen and computer science major, shared his experience with the Campus Cafe.

He mentioned, “I think the convenience, location, prices, and overall quality of the drinks and food were fantastic and that will be the general things that people will miss. The vibe and kind service they provided was super relaxing and an overall great experience.” 

In the end, the Campus Cafe may be gone, but its legacy will live on. It was a place where students could come together, share ideas, and make memories.

Xiong’s final thoughts summed up the sentiment perfectly:

“I hope that they remember the friendly atmosphere, how good our staff was, and how much we enjoyed taking care and serving them.”

The post Coffee to Go: Remembering Campus Cafe appeared first on The Triton's Call.

The University of Guam Reserve Officer Training Corps (UOG ROTC) program is an exceptional opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and prepare for a career in the military. The UOG ROTC program provides students with the necessary training, education and experience to become successful leaders in the Army.

The program offers a challenging curriculum that includes classroom instruction, physical fitness training and hands-on leadership experience. Students are taught military tactics, communication skills and critical thinking abilities that will serve them well in any career path they choose. 

Upon graduating from the program, students are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army.

ROTC cadets often have busy schedules that require them to attend classes, participate in training exercises, complete assignments, and study for exams. To manage these demands effectively, they need to develop good time management skills. 

Cadet Ashley Iriarte, a freshmen and criminal justice major, shares how she’s been able to get assignments done.

“After my classes, when I get home, I make a to-do list of what’s important, what isn’t, and what I can do later,” she said.

Having to focus on getting assignments done might detract from the discipline needed to fulfill ROTC responsibilities.

Cadet Leimana Naholowaa, a sophomore and criminal justice major, spoke about what motivates her to keep going.

“Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning I think ‘Okay, I don’t want to go [to physical training] this morning.’ and I have to think again and go, ‘This will benefit me if I go because it’ll help me and my future.’”

Motivation can come from various sources, such as personal goals, a sense of duty to one’s country, or a desire to serve others. For Cadet Lidio Fuello, a junior majoring in psychology, motivation to succeed encompasses all those things.

“As someone who is going to be commissioned as an army officer, I am going to lead someone’s son or daughter into war and I don’t want to fail my countrymen by being an incompetent leader. So for me, what it’s about now is that I have to be motivated to make myself better so I can ultimately lead others to succeed as well,”

Cadet Fuello concludes how the comradery of the program makes hardships that come with being a cadet and student all worth the while. 

“In ROTC, there is a common saying, it’s called “embrace the suck”. Despite all the setbacks and adversities, we experience it together as a team and that’s what makes us all closer,” says Fuello.

The post Balance is Key: How UOG ROTC Cadets Succeed appeared first on The Triton's Call.

Every student has their way of making college life exciting outside of getting papers and projects done. Activities involving physical challenges seem like a popular choice, at least for social work student Nathan Javier.

Expecting to graduate this semester, Javier uses the time he has engaging in powerlifting as a part of his schedule.

Powerlifting is an exercise that involves lifting heavy weights, usually with a barbell, in order to improve muscular strength and endurance. He spoke about the benefits of incorporating the gym into his routine.

“I feel a lot more energetic and a lot more disciplined in my school work. It’s like conditioning; go to gym, go to class, then do homework.” 

Javier has been powerlifting since August 2022 and aims to improve the amount of weight he can lift. 

“I’ve been wanting to work up to a two-plate bench, three-plate squat, and a four-plate deadlift. I would like to hit it before I graduate.” Javier mentioned. 

Although balancing school and fitness sounds difficult, Javier still manages to get quality training in between classes and a busy semester.  

“I know everyone’s time management is different and I know there are a lot of people that don’t like working out when they have more free time, but for me I like jam-packing it,” said Javier. “I like working out when I’m at my busiest, so when it’s the weekend, I have more time to myself.” 

However, it is not often that students can find the perfect opportunity to exercise. Nathan faces the challenges of juggling the demands of school work with the physical demands of the gym.

“Last semester was pretty hard. I could only work out for like three days on average for like an hour each,” he said.

With the pressures of midterms and presentations approaching, Javier values consistency over perfection.

“Consistency really is key, so if you work out once a week, as long as you keep going, you’ll get up there,” Javier mentioned. “Don’t let it discourage you when you don’t have that much time, just be as consistent as you can with everything going on in your life.”

The post Barbells and Bachelor’s Degrees appeared first on The Triton's Call.

The Triton Esports Chess Team was newly founded this semester and spearheaded by Triton Esports manager, Ken San Nicholas. Players with various levels of experience all found their way onto the team by applying through the Triton Esports website. 

So far, the team has competed against two colleges since the beginning of the year.

The team fell short to Fresno State University, but they managed to get their first win against Pepperdine University, with a score of 7.5-8.5.

Kaelan Arciaga, a junior at UOG and current member of the chess team, led the Tritons to their first victory of the season and shares his experience on his first collegiate win.

“[The matches] were really fun. I really enjoyed the times we had matches. Watching my teammates play, watching ourselves play, and looking at how we failed and how we succeeded–there are really amazing matches that I wish more people at UOG could have seen. Hopefully, we get to stream them so people can watch them,” said Arciaga.

What began as a simple board game for the players eventually evolved into an opportunity to develop their teamwork skills and represent their university on a national level. For Kaelan, it means improving and learning from each moment in the game.

“I thought I was going to lose heavily but during the second match, I saw the mistakes I made and the mistakes my opponent made. It created a challenging yet fun experience that I can do some more.”

The Chess Team practices every Saturday at 2pm, in conjunction with the Chess Federation of Guam. 

The post A New Year for UOG Chess appeared first on The Triton's Call.