IT was an honor to be selected as Junior Statesman for the summer of 2002. It is a dream of any young island person to travel to a famous university in the states, in order to learn about our American government and laws.
However, my trip was contingent on receiving a sizable “scholarship” from our local CNMI funding, and it was to be supplemented by “fund-raising events.” I sincerely thank the governor, the lt. governor, the legislators and Connie Salas at the Department of Finance for their assistance and support. But to be honest, I felt uncomfortable receiving the local grant money to travel to a fancy university in the states when my fellow students in the CNMI are suffering from shortages in school supplies, teachers, etc. Furthermore, fund-raising now at a time when businesses are barely making ends meet is not fair to struggling merchants.
If we were in better times I would be the first one on the plane, and I wish the other Junior Statesmen a safe and exciting trip. For me this summer, I’ll be taking “Current Issues in the CNMI” with Sam McPhetres at NMC, and from what my father says, I’ll be learning the good stuff about both America and the CNMI right here in downtown, beautiful Fina Sisu.JENNIFER ANGELLO
Chalan Kiya, Saipan
