By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

NEARLY a hundred high school students at Mount Carmel School staged a rally Friday on their the campus encouraging their peers to speak up and be actively involved in the CNMI’s federalization issues.
Spearheaded by the school’s Student Council, the rally was attended by the MCS public speaking class.
Matthew Deleon Guerrero, Student Council president and CNMI Youth Congress speaker, said the event aimed to motivate youth to share their opinions on important issues that affect them.
“We want the youth to be active in the governmental process, more active in decisions that affect our lives…such as the immigration and the minimum wage issues,” he told Variety.
“What we’re doing is taking the first step…trying to understand the issue and taking a firm position afterward,” Deleon Guerrero said.
For senior student Nicolette Villagomez, the rally also aimed to “empower” MCS youth so they can freely express their opinions.
Michelle T. Cabrera, a junior student, said “the youth should be among the primary concerns” that should be taken into consideration in the federalization issues.
MCS principal Galvin Deleon Guerrero said he’s very proud of the students for showing their “concern.”
MCS students also joined the “No Federalization Without Consideration” rally on Friday night at American Memorial Park.