Derek Cutting spoke to Variety about a mentorship program of the Rotary Club of Saipan.
ROTARIAN Derek Cutting at the Jan. 28 meeting of the Rotary Club of Saipan, said the second iteration of their student mentorship program is already underway.
The program links local high school students with professionals from industries that the students show interest in.
The program was launched on Saipan last year by Rotarian John Arroyo, the president and CEO of the Bank of Saipan. The participating students met with and interviewed professionals in career fields the students were interested in pursuing.
In order to participate, students must fill out an application form to indicate their career interests and write an essay about their aspirations.
Cutting said 20 students from public and private high schools on Saipan have submitted their applications this year. He wants them to begin meeting with their mentors as early as next week.
At the club’s meeting on Tuesday, Cutting asked his fellow Rotarians to review the 20 applications and link those applicants to people in their network. He hopes that after an initial hour-long meeting, the mentors will be able to assist the students in the long term as well.
“We’re asking for at least an hour, but if you’re open to potentially being long-term with this student, would you be willing to do that?” Cutting asked.
Arroyo spoke about the potential impact of the mentorship. “If you can participate and show enthusiasm, I believe it will go a long way in helping the kids here in the CNMI progress throughout their lives as they pursue their dream careers,” he told his fellow Rotarians.
