PEOPLE always say youth are the leaders of tomorrow, but the truth is we are also the voices of today. The choices being made now will shape our future, and that means we cannot afford to stay silent. As a young person from Guam, I see struggles that weigh on us every day, and I know many of you in Saipan feel the same.
It begins with education. On Guam, many schools are falling apart with broken walls, weak air conditioners, and outdated technology. Leaders patch problems with temporary fixes, but we need more than tape on broken windows. Education should be the foundation of our future, yet when that foundation is weak it limits how high we can rise. Saipan, I know some of your schools face these same challenges.
This connects to something deeper, our culture. When resources are low, programs that teach Chamorro and Carolinian traditions are often cut. But culture is not an extra. It is who we are, what grounds us, and what gives us pride to move forward.
And when education and culture are weakened, opportunity feels far away. Too many of us are told that success only exists somewhere else. But that is not true. We should not have to leave our islands to chase our dreams.
To the youth of Saipan, know this. We are one Marianas, one family, one people. If we raise our voices together, we can demand better schools, protect our culture, and build opportunities right here at home!
GENESIS BABAUTA
Agat, Guam
