[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GUAM'S YOUTH ISLAND LEADERSHIP DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2000

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, each year in April, Guam's Department of 
Education celebrates Youth Month with several activities. An oratorical 
contest, a student exchange program, a school showcase, and a youth 
showcase, and a youth conference culminates with the much-anticipated 
Island Leadership Day, during which students assume the roles of Guam's 
public, private, and military leaders for a day. In coordination with 
these sectors of our island community, the activity gives students from 
Guam's middle schools and high schools the opportunity to experience 
leadership roles. Island senators, corporate accountants, military 
colonels and, even, hospital nurses were included in the wide range of 
career men and women that selected students ``shadowed'' in order to 
experience an average day's work in their assigned positions.
  On the morning of April 26, 2000, three high school students looking 
sharp, studious and ready to take on the challenge, walked into my 
office. William B. Jones, a senior from George Washington High School 
was Guam's student Washington Delegate for the day while Jonathan 
Pador, was a G.W. senior, took over as student District Director for my 
office and Madelene Marinas, a senior from the Academy of Our Lady of 
Guam, functioned as student Communications Director. Their eagerness 
was tempered by a bit of nervousness which was not surprising.
  These students made me reminisce of my own high school days and the 
very first Island Leadership Day. Although admitting to the fact 
betrays my age, I still remain proud I once earned the privilege of 
being a senator in the Guam Legislature for a day. I remember arriving 
at the Guam legislative session hall that day back in 1964. I made a 
bee line for the desk of my hero, Senator Antonio B. Won Pat. I have 
always admired this man. He later worked to further advance Guam's 
agenda when he was elected to the office of the Guam Washington 
Representative in 1965. He was the first and only man to serve in this 
capacity until the office was replaced by the congressionally created 
Guam delegate's office in 1972. Mr. Won Pat served as a member of the 
House of Representatives from 1972 until 1984.
  I did not realize it at the time but I look back to that event as the 
day I took my dreams a step further. I began setting my goals on that 
first Island Leadership Day in 1964. As Island Leadership Day is 
intended to introduce and inspire students to leadership positions in 
the community, I am proud to say I was among the ranks of many who, 
over the years, found inspiration and realized their goals through this 
program.
  With the enthusiastic support of Guam's public, private and military 
sectors, more than 300 students from nearly every middle and high 
school took part in Island Leadership Day 2000. All in all, thousands 
of Guam's students participated in the various activities of Youth 
Month, each planned and coordinated by student leaders themselves. In 
particular, the Youth Month Central Planning Committee, was made up of 
students from Southern High School, specifically Cherika Chargualaf, 
president; Hermaine Alerta, vice president; Erwin Agar, secretary; 
Joseph Cruz, treasurer; and Angela Tamayo, activities coordinator. In 
having planned and executed a very impressive and successful schedule 
of varied events, our youth genuinely embodied this year's Youth Month 
theme, ``I Manhoben I Isla-ta, I Fuetsan I Tiempo-ta--The Youth of Our 
Island, the Strength of Our Time.''
  Today's youth embody our future. As we provide training and guidance, 
their performance is clear indication of the leadership they have to 
offer for the future. As I look at local students take roles in 
different career areas, I see a wonderful vision of Guam's future.

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