Triton's Call | Volume 49; Issue 2 | March-April 2023

April

CONTENTS

04 Go With Your Bad Self; College Moms

Gabriella Piper

08 Young Watchdog to Leading Activist Paradis Fejerang

12

Balance is Key: How ROTC Cadets Succeed Darren Caldwell

05 Putting ‘Service’ in Community Service

Katielyn Aizon

09 Old Club, New Beginnings

Macquinn Manning

13

DR. MANUEL “MANNY” CRUZ - PUBLISHER cruzm6043@triton.uog.edu

SKYLER OBISPO - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF obispos@gotritons.uog.edu

KYONA RIVERA - ASSISTANT EDITOR riverak13441@triton.uog.edu

KATIELYNN AIZON - COPY EDITOR aizonk@gotritons.uog.edu

GABRIELLA PIPER - COPY EDITOR piperg@gotritons.uog.edu

RONALD FUELLAS - EDITING AND LAYOUT fuellasr@triton.uog.edu

MACQUINN MANNING - ADVERTISING MANAGER manningm@gotritons.uog.edu

PARADIS JOLIE FEJERANG - SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER fejerangp@gotritons.uog.edu

DARREN CALDWELL - PHOTOGRAPHER caldwelld11688@gotritons.uog.edu

Ronald Fuellas

Kyona Rivera

Gabriella Piper But

Ronald Fuellas

If Going to College Makes You a Bad Mom, Then Go with Your Bad Self!

by Gabriella Piper

There are several ways to define a mother, the most basic definition is a woman who raises children.

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.

Triton’s Putting the ‘service’ in Community Service

by Katielyn Aizon

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

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

come 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 commu

bers 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.

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, UOG Tritons continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

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?”

“If I’m helping someone, I always have a reason to keep going and feel aligned with my purpose.”

My Dirty Little Secret: The Future of AI in the Education System

by Ronald Fuellas

There is no doubt that one of the most promising recent developments in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence has been the rise of complex linguistic models.

ChatGPT is an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system built to understand and generate natural language text in a way that closely resembles human communication.

We interviewed three University of Guam students to get their thoughts and opinions on the rise of AI and its implementation in the education system.

A Communications and Media major stated, “I typically use it on simple assignments that require extended responses, as well as assignments that I consider to be “busywork”. What would normally take me 1-2 hours to complete will only take me 30 minutes now if I use ChatGPT,” the student explained.

“I typically use them in essays where I sometimes need to paraphrase or try and reword my sentences,” a Computer Science major commented.

The implementation of

AI tools into students’ academic careers has proven itself to be beneficial not only for them, but professors as well.

“I think it should be implemented into students’ academic journeys because, like other online resources, it helps individuals to be more efficient and effective with their work,” said the Communication student.

“I think it can be used effectively in academics. I think teachers or professors would be able to use it for brainstorming or even to help draft discussion questions,” a Criminal Justice major added. Students believe that these tools will be the future in one’s academic career.

Another Computer Science major stated that “AI will be shaping the future of the education system by supplying

answers to the teacher or students. It can create a whole lesson plan on one specific topic and it can be used to help aid in simple and complex research,” said the student.

These students go as far as to recommend the usage of AI tools in one’s academic career.

“I would recommend the usage of AI tools to students. AI tools can now help summarize paragraphs and write an essay for you as a starting guide,” the Computer Science student shared.

“It can be useful for brainstorming for things like a topic for a paper. Someone could type in an abstract, broken thought and get back a whole picture to help them get started,” the Criminal Justice student added.

AI tools will not only save you time and en-

“Someone could type in an abstract, broken thought and get back a whole picture to help them get started,”

ergy creating a starting foundation for you, but ensure you make time

for yourself and others.

“I still do my homework on things I need to learn to pass, I just use AI to handle the things I don’t want to do or find meaningless, which allows me to spend more time focusing on the more important activities and people in my life,” the Communication student said.

Though OpenAI’s new chatbot, ChatGPT, raises concerns for the future of academia, its potential as an educational tool outweighs its risks and should therefore be incorporated into the education system.

The University of Guam has over 2,800 students as of this current spring semester. About 45% are pacific islander, 47% are asian, 3% are white/ non-hispanic, 0.5% are international students, 1% are hispanic, 0.4% are black/African American, 0.1% are native american, and the other 3% are unknown.

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

Unity in Diversity

by Kyona Rivera

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.

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.

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.

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

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

“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.

“Remember that you have a valuable voice, even if it’s not always recognized by others,”

Young Watchdog to Leading Activist

by Paradis Fejerang

Maria Hernandez May, once a reporter for local news, became a leading advocate for the locals of Guam and their rights to their land, as well as an activist for protecting the culture and overall well-being of the island.

May graduated from the University of Guam in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and continued her education to then receive a Master’s degree in 2017 for Business Administration.

It was during her time at UOG that May experienced what she refers to as,

UOG, May shares her hopes in being able to find the path that feels right, feeling strongly about this topic as she went through multiple major changes before settling on English.

“Switch gears and adjust plans until you find what is right for you.”

Her small business, Lole’ Handmade, exhibits her dedication to zero-waste and sustainability as her products consist of handmade body care products, recycled glass jewelry and upcycled wine bottle candles.

ly’s loss of land.

Alongside other local families, May is unable to connect to her ancestors through their land due to the military taking possession of the northernmost area of Guam, where her family’s beach was located.

as how locals of the Pacific have traditions connecting them to water and how unnatural levels of carcinogens being found in the islands’ water are making it difficult to prosper among them.

According to May, the most influential courses that opened her eyes to such a reality included political science, CHamoru and humanities.

May also gives credit to the Fellows for Inquiry Towards Enlightenment Club, or F.I.T.E. Club, which she was a member of, for teaching her about what it takes to be an activist. “We would attend speeches held by politicians on campus and play the role of watchdogs.”

Addressing students currently attending

“I continue to make big decisions and shifts in my life trusting my gut instincts and prioritizing that the work I do aligns with my values.” May believes that finding comfort in your plans while in college will follow into your future, so it is good to practice allowing yourself to do what satisfies you.

Since graduating, May has taken on many roles from marketing, to communications specialist, to business owner.

May frequently takes part in organizing events for the community with the goal of raising awareness about environmental and cultural justice issues in Guåhan.

Associated with groups such as Hita Litekyan, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, I Hagan Famalåo’an Guåhan and the Mana’adahi Coalition, May’s passion for such advocacy was kickstarted by her fami-

For her most recent project, May returned to the UOG campus to present the final product: a three part series of short films called For Love of Water.

Each of the three films cover the importance of water travel from Guam to Hawaii and are entitled Protecting Guam’s Aquifer, Pacifika Solidarity and Toxic Legacy. Through these films, May hopes to educate viewers on topics such

May is excited to announce the release of the film series onto YouTube.

The first of the three episodes is currently up and updates for the continuation of the series will come within upcoming weeks.

To watch the first episode of the For Love of Water series, you can subscribe to Maria Hernandez May’s Youtube channel. The video is entitled EP1: Protecting Guam’s Aquifer (For Love of Water Series) on YouTube.

For further information regarding May’s business, her shop can be found online at lolehandmade.com and its Instagram is @lolehandmadeguam.

If you are interested in May’s community organization efforts to bring awareness to cultural and environmental matters, she posts updates on her Instagram, @ hitalitekyan.

“an awakening to the injustices of living in a modern day colony.”

Old Clubs, New Beginnings

by Macquinn Manning

The relationship between Guam and the United States military has been mixed over the last century.

For the University of Guam, they have been welcoming of prior service members whether local or abroad. Because of this support, the University of Guam has decided to revive the Student Veterans Organization.

The Student Veteran Organization is a club for students who served in the United States Armed forces as well as for students who did not serve. It is an organization for like minded students who are going or have gone through the transition from military life to student life.

University of Guam Veterans Affairs Representative Aileen Artero asked Keana Perez, who is a current service member in the Army National Guard as well as a University of Guam student, if she would be interested in revamping the Student Veteran Organization and Perez obliged. Perez would then become the president of the newly revived Student Veteran Organization.

Perez explains why the Student Veteran Organization was reborn. “SVO seeks to provide the

resources and support needed to reintegrate into campus life and achieve academic success”.

Perez proceeded to explain some of the benefits of being a veteran student, “Many service members are unaware that registering as a veteran with UOG qualifies them for early registration”.

Not only do veteran students qualify for early registration, but those who have been honorably discharged qualify for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill for their education.

Think of the Post 9/11

G.I. Bill as a full scholarship that pays for your

“Although

costs of living as well. The G.I. Bill can also be helpful when it comes to purchasing supplies for school.

Another form of G.I. Bill is the Vocational Rehabilitation for Employ-

ment, a scholarship for disabled veterans that will pay for the veteran’s education for them to have a career post college to accommodate the disabled.

There are a few challenges that come with living a different life that one has already been accustomed to.

“There will always be a time a veteran seeking higher education faces adversity,” said Perez. SVO is not only exclusive to veterans. Students without a military background can also join the club. Perez wanted the Student Veteran Organization to be an all inclusive club regardless of how long

you served or if you didn’t serve at all. Perez wanted to ensure that anyone and everyone is welcomed to join the club, which is great for students who are interested in the military and military life in general. Perhaps some students may want to consider joining the military after they graduate and SVO can give students knowledge about the military and military lifestyle. Perez says, “SVO is here to do just that. Help all our brothers and sisters. A veteran can serve a day, 10 weeks, or 20 years. Here at SVO you are considered a veteran.”

there aren’t any challenges of my own, a good battle buddy of mine approached me about their difficulty in managing their own time or making their own schedule and I saw the disconnect between their military lifestyle and civilian lifestyle.

What does it take to get through the challenging years of college?

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

Secrets of a College STEM Student

by Kyona Rivera

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

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

yourself as a Hollywood star.

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.

day and have no idea what is going on?

Tirazona says that it is all about making that body language con-

“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

nection 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.

Dancing to the University Beat

by Katielyn Aizon

Students attending the University of Guam are not only passionate in their studies but are also passionate in pursuing their hobbies.

When not studying for an exam, two sisters can be found dancing with the island’s only collegiate dance team, UOG Triton’s Collective.

Camille “Cami” Cosico, a third-year psychology major and philosophy minor, is the current vice president for Triton’s Collective and has been with the team since 2021.

Her sister, Monica “Moni” Cosico, a first-year communication major and theater minor, joined Triton’s Collective in Fall of 2022.

She and her sister have been dancing since they were children and both continue to find inspiration from various celebrities and choreographers, such as BTS and Paris Goebel, who choreographed Rihanna’s Super Bowl 2023 performance.

Moni Cosico expressed her story as to how she became interested in dancing.

“I’ve always been interested in dancing since I was a kid, but the ‘Step Up 3D’ movie was what really got me into it,” she

said. “So, when my sister and I moved to Guam from the Philippines I was able to join dance teams in high school and now in college.”

According to the Cosico sisters, performances are an important aspect of being a dancer. They believe putting the work into being a better dancer ties into helping them perform better academically and relieve stress.

Moni Cosico expressed how dancing promotes discipline in her day-today life.

“The skills I need for my major are presenting and public speaking and this is where dance practice comes into place,” she said. “Some thing I learned through being a part of Triton’s Collective is making sure that days prior [to a performance or presen tation] I know my stuff,” she said.

Cami Cosico explained that dancing as a stu dent also helps her with her mental health.

practice your brain shuts off and helps you focus on one thing and then you start to feel better afterwards because it helps you cope with your stress.”

Cami Cosico expressed

In fact, it can enhance your experiences and help you in developing the skills needed to become successful.

“When you come to

“In a way, dancing also helps with mental health because college can be stressful,”

Balance is Key: How ROTC Cadets Succeed

by Darren Caldwell

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 todo 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.

Despite all the setbacks and adversities, we ex-

“In ROTC, there is a common saying, it’s called “embrace the suck”.

perience it together as a team and that’s what makes us all closer,” says Fuello.

Professional Bowler, Freelance Journalist, UOG Alum

by Paradis Fejerang

University of Guam graduate, Joseph ‘Jay’ Leon Guerrero received a degree in business with international hospitality and a concentration in tourism.

He gives credit to his advisor and mentor, John Salas, saying that Salas had everything to do with the success that Leon Guerrero has accomplished since graduating from UOG.

Salas was a major influ-

ence in Leon Guerrero’s decision to choose the hospitality management route

“When I got into the hospitality management division, I kicked it into full gear. I moved quickly and I got my degree. I was on the Dean’s List towards the end.”

Leon Guerrero has been working with United Airlines since 1996, back when it was known as Continental Airlines. He

has since worked his way up the ranks and is now a system operations representative. “As the ‘middleman’ between everyone within the airlines, this line of work can be demanding, especially during peak hours of traffic within the airport.”

Outside of his main line of work at United, Leon Guerrero also takes time to do freelance writing for Guam Sports Network. He says that

continuing to work for GSPN is his outlet for fun.

His reasoning for choosing this specific line of work is that he wants to help the community and finds great satisfaction in uplifting the athletes on the island. With GSPN, he has assisted in throwing events such as pre-season tournaments and all-star games, and he has gone overseas to cover local athletes in their respective sports.

“Sports has always been an avenue…an alternative for not going out and committing crime or doing drugs. Sports is that thing that they do to combat that,”

Leon Guerrero is part of Guam’s national team for the sport and has gone overseas to compete in international tournaments. In 2019, he earned the title of the highest ranking Guamanian to participate in the Bowling World Cup, placing tenth. He continues to compete in the sport and is planning on attending the Philippine International Open in May.

Driven by his want to elevate young athletes combined with his experience with bowl-

ing, Leon Guerrero has proven to be a vital part in the development of a bowling league for the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam.

The IIAAG bowling league is a project that Leon Guerrero is spending a lot of time with. All of the coaching is free and he ensures himself moments with most schools involved to provide as much assistance as he can to young bowlers in the league.

Many of the athletes are completely new to sports. “They’re finding out that this sport of bowling is something that they can challenge themselves with - mentally and physically.”

To current students at UOG that are interested in his career path or are following a similar degree program to him, Leon Guerrero wants to let you know that there are jobs out there for you! He has continuously seen more jobs opening up and is confident that UOG students have the education to excel in the field.

Rest, Relax, Rejuvinate

by Gabriella Piper

hustle of classes that they neglect their minds and bodies, depriving them of the rest that they need and deserve.

N G B R E A K R E C A P

With the ever-busy schedule of a college student, it can be hard to escape the pressures that come with being an scholar even during periods of time that are designed for rest, which is why spring break is so beneficial for students.

“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

But Now We’re Stressed Out

by Ronald Fuellas

Before heading out for spring break, Tritons have one final hurdle to overcome, midterms.

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

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.

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,

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.”

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

“I would say the main

“Personally, stress feels like an unbearable weight on my chest with a mix of panic,”

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 S P R I

said Raianne Quichocho, an Integrative

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

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,”

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.

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.”