(PSS) — The students of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School and the sixth graders of Sinapalo Elementary School held their annual youth summit Friday. The summit was initiated by the school’s Youth Advisory Panel, which is under the Office of the Commissioner of Education.
This year’s gathering saw the participation of Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho. He and the other speakers gave the over 300 students an opportunity to be part of the discussions on building leadership and other skills that can help them in their future choices.
The day-long summit on May 17 was held at Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School, and included presentations by various clubs, organizations and PSS programs.
These included AmeriCorps, the Youth Advisory Panel, the Student Council, the JROTC program, the National Honor Society, the Division of Youth Services, Natural Helpers, Sources of Strength and Project Prom.
Their presentations were about team building, healthy eating, making right choices, education and career success, healthy relationships, digital citizenship, budgeting and mental well-being.
Also participating in the summit were Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog, the first student representative to the CNMI Board of Education, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, and visiting officials of the Guam Visitors Bureau led by its president and CEO, former Guam Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierres, who were on a familiarization tour with media members and social media influencers.
In his remarks, Commissioner of Education Camacho talks about his life’s journey, and how education can help improve one’s attitude and behavior toward life.
“I was told at an early age that it is important to get educated, that I needed to go to school to learn many things in life, and to eventually succeed in everything that I do,” he said. “It was my grandfather — an old man who never received education during the Japanese period — who encouraged me to focus on my future by going to school to learn,” he added.
“I took to heart what he told me. As a little kid from the community of San Roque in Saipan, I studied hard. My grandfather was right: go beyond and dream big.”
His grandfather was Gregorio T. Camacho, who served as village commissioner of San Roque during the Trust Territory era, and was the first PTA president of San Roque Elementary School, which was later renamed in his honor.
The commissioner believes that Rota’s public school students are the island’s future, and that education will always be the key to success.
“Get educated,” he said. “Go beyond what you can learn by exploring what education can provide and give you. Then come back home and serve the community.”
He added, “Your education leaders, me included, your school principals, classroom teachers, counselor, librarians and everyone in this community will continue to work together to make sure that Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School and Sinapalo Elementary School and all other schools on Tinian and Saipan, will continue to deliver quality education.”
“The future that I see in you is what drives us, your educators and supporters of public education,” he said.
Commissioner Camacho said PSS continues to implement initiatives and programs that cater to the growing needs of students, including their after-high school choices. These include a career and technical education curriculum taught in middle school and high school, and the Cooperative Education Program, which allows early workforce exposure through on-the-job training for high school students.
“Your PSS leaders, with the support of the Board of Education, will continue to provide the support needed by our students. And, as PSS students, you are going to be designing your future and the future of this beautiful island,” he added.
Members of the Youth Advisory Panel of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School and the various presenters of the Youth Summit pose for a photo with Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho at the conclusion of the day-long event on May 17.
RHI students interact with speakers, guests and Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence Camacho.
Students and staff of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School pose for a photo with Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, Guam Visitors Bureau officials, media members and social media influencers.
Rota students are about to perform a special dance number.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho urges Rota’s public school students to “continue learning and come back to serve the Rota community.” Also in photo: former Guam Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez, right, who is now the president and chief executive officer of the Guam Visitors Bureau.
