Marianas High School student Jhaylin Cruz, right, with Juju Davetawalu, a fellow participant from American Samoa.
Marianas High School student Gabrielle Johnson, center, with other participants of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Youth Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C.
MARIANAS High School students Gabrielle Johnson, Reggie Castro and Jhaylin Cruz have returned from Washington, D.C. where they attended the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Youth Leadership Academy.
Recently, they spoke with Variety about the ways they felt empowered by their experiences in the nation’s capital.
The academy was a weeklong leadership development and enrichment program. From June 9-14, the students explored Washington, D.C. and interacted with Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander staffers working in the White House and the U.S. Congress.
They also participated in a “mock Congress” so they could learn the “roles they can play in the American political system.”
Johnson, who will be a sophomore this coming school year, has Native Hawaiian, Chamorro, Carolinian, and Caucasian heritage. She underscored the importance of the MHS students’ participation in the program.
She said there are not a lot of Native Hawaiians, and most of the delegates from Hawaii were of Asian descent.
The academy, she added, allowed her to broaden her perspective.
“Being part of this program and meeting other Pacific Islanders and Asians from around the U.S. opened my eyes,” she said. “Hearing the different perspectives and experiences of everyone made me realize how lucky I am to know my culture and live in a place that is so diverse and welcoming for our community. One of the participants on this trip said that we inspired her to embrace her Pacific Islander heritage.”
Engaging
Cruz, who will be a senior when the new school year begins, said his time at the academy was filled with “engaging and interactive lessons, tours and activities that helped us learn how to become the future leaders of our nation.”
He now has a better understanding of the “inner dynamics” of the U.S. government, and the “pivotal role” played by minority cultural groups in a democracy.
“I have gained the skills, knowledge and experiences of how we can implement representation of our AA/PI and NH communities within our government, how to advocate for many of our underrepresented/marginalized communities, and that there are actually people within our federal government who genuinely care about us — people from U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the CNMI,” he said.
He said the experience makes him want to pursue a career in criminal justice or public policy.
Eye-opening
For Castro, who will be a junior in the new school year, the academy was “transformative.”
“As a student from a small island in the Pacific, being immersed in the bustling political landscape of Washington, D.C. was an eye-opening and inspiring experience,” he said. “I had the opportunity to meet and learn from a diverse group of young leaders from across the nation. Hearing their perspectives and experiences as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students opened my eyes to the shared challenges and aspirations we face.”
Of particular importance was his interaction with Pacific Islanders working in Congress and the White House.
“Their stories and advice reinforced the belief that our voices and experiences matter in the political sphere,” he said. “They encouraged us to get involved, advocate for our communities, and strive to make a difference.”
The three MHS students said they want to serve their community.
“Being back on the island and having these different experiences from this trip and perspectives from my peers is pushing me to advocate for everyone here in the Marianas to get the help that we need,” Johnson said. “I want to make a difference and help our people.”
Cruz said he wants to use his experiences to “promote advocacy, representation, and inspire change both here at home and in Washington, D.C.”
As for Castro, he would like to see more of his schoolmates participate in the political process.
“I’m eager to share the knowledge and inspiration I gained,” he said. “I want to inspire my peers and the younger generation to become more civically engaged and to use their voices to enact positive change. As underrepresented Pacific Islanders, we have an important role to play in shaping the policies and decisions that impact our communities.”
