Hundreds of seniors take part in career fair

Over 100 senior high school students, majority from Marianas High School and Kagman High School’s cooperative education programs, took part in yesterday’s Public School System High School Cooperative Education and Training and Secondary Transition Career Fair at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall.

Kagman High School senior Eugeneio Delos Reyes, who was scouting for a part-time work, said that he needs to land a good job to prepare himself for the future.

“We’re still high school students and many of us don’t have that much work experience and for me, today is a good opportunity to start. I want to work while studying because I am pretty sure it will help me in my future.”

With résumé and other credentials in hand, Delos Reyes applied at Triple J Motors, one of the company booths he visited yesterday.

MHS senior Oliver Iguel, a first-timer to the career fair, said he is still weighing his options with the three booths he visited: the Department of Labor, Joeten Enterprises, and the Judiciary. “I am still undecided which one I will try, but definitely I will get one,” he said.

Iguel described as “fascinating and interesting” the information he got from each firm. “I feel the need for a job and practicing or preparing to get into the job would be the first step. Without this co-op educational program, it would be more difficult for me to enter the business industry,” said Iguel.

Juleen Hiponia and Elaine Manalo, both seniors at MHS, said they came prepared for their interviews in hopes of getting part-time jobs or training. Hiponia wants to apply as a desk clerk at Saipan World Resort, while Manalo applied for a clerical office job at Pacific Islands Club.

Other groups of students said they want to get part-time jobs so they could help their parents, many of whom are government employees suffering from salary cuts.

Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience and helps young people make the school-to-work transition.

Among those kept busy entertaining “visitors” yesterday was Fernando Romolor, the counselor aide at the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Former lawmaker Juan T. Guerrero, owner of the Herman’s Bakery, was also among the employers seen attending to “applicants.” NMC Alumni Association president Jack Kiyoshi, along with some college staffers, was also seen promoting the college.

Over 120 students, 29 companies

Co-op education and training program Tyce Mister was elated with yesterday’s turnout, with over 120 senior students and 29 companies and groups from public and private sectors participating.

He believes this year’s student attendance is the highest in recent years. Of the 120 students, 167 are from MHS; 28 from KHS; and the rest are from the special education secondary transition program. The career fair is conducted every semester.

“I know a lot of people think that the economy is struggling right now but our community is here to show that they do care about the young workforce and show them the careers and other opportunities that are available on island,” said Mister.