They are skateboarders. Yes, you read it right—skateboarders. They are named after the sport and hobby they are most passionate about—skateboarding. They usually travel in packs, but they don’t mean any trouble.
These teenagers are brought together by their interest in skate boarding and some are members of a non-profit organization that helps with community-oriented activities, known as ISK8.
Chat with the ISK8 president
“Skateboarding is about determination, patience and having a good personality,” says ISK8’s newly elected president Johanna Arellano.
She added skateboarding is also helpful by bringing teenagers together to offer their skills and talent to assist their community.
After just graduating from Marianas High School, Arellano is currently looking for a job before going to college and is excited to handle the community activities of ISK8.
ISK8 members recently volunteered to clean up the graffiti at the new Saipan Rotary Youth Skate Park.
She said that working on her priorities is not an issue when she was still in school and the same time leading the organization.
“It is just a matter of concentrating on your studies before anything else,” she explains.
Arellano pointed out there is nothing more important than studying hard for the future.
Aside from looking for a job, Arellano said she has her full attention focused on ISK8 now that school is over for the moment.
She said ISK8 is planning more activities for skate-members and the teen community on island.
Although skateboarders are often stereotyped as the ones responsible for “graffiti”, Arellano noted they are the ones who are actually cleaning the mess.
“Our members are enthusiastic volunteers,” she said.
Aside from skating, Arellano also plays the guitar and knows how to draw and notes that some of their members are also good at drawing and art.
Skating Teen Life
Arellano said skateboarding teaches teens about patience and challenge.
“A person must persevere in order to learn the hard skateboarding tricks,” she said.
She compared the skateboarding tricks to the challenges and problems teenagers encounter in life.
According to her, like learning skateboarding tricks, teens can only solve their problems by not giving up.
“Skateboard tricks are hard and you’ll get hurt at first,” she said. “Same goes with life’s challenges.” Being a member of the organization also helps the teens develop their attitude towards other people.
Arellano said teens learn about camaraderie and teamwork by skateboarding with others.
She said the more interaction the members have the more skateboarding tricks they will learn from each other.
She is encouraging the teens on island to join their group and play sports instead of smoking and doing drugs.
“Skateboarding will also help teens become physically fit. We also learn to stay humble and respect people as well as be determined to do what we enjoy,” she smiled.
