Youth take over govt roles in Takeover Day

The 2018 Youth Takeover Day last Thursday featured high school —and even some college—students taking over the roles of veteran government employees and getting a brief glimpse of what these employees do, right up to the roles that lawmakers and the governor perform.

The 2018 Youth Takeover Day was organized by the Office of the Governor’s Youth Affairs Office headed by special assistant Shelane Borja.

There were 180 participants from Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Mount Carmel School, Grace Christian Academy, and Da’ok Academy, while a total of 95 mentors from the government, non-profit organizations, private organizations, federal agencies, and businesses throughout Saipan also participated.

“The goal of Youth Takeover Day is to put young people at the forefront of decision-making and experience real-life career opportunities. Takeover Day is also for the youth to explore their potential careers of interest,” Borja told Saipan Tribune. “Empowering our youth to pursue careers across all fields and sectors ultimately leads to a Commonwealth that improves and protects the lives of those who call our island home. Our goal is to help plant the seed of empowerment.

Two students at the office of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres participated in Thursday’s proclamation signings as well as a historic budget signing. The students, Tine Reyes and Hannah Santos, described Torres as enthusiastic for the Commonwealth’s future.

“Their genuine curiosity shows me how important it is to cultivate these interests for our future generations of leaders. At the end of the day and even when my term comes to an end, we all hope that we will leave the government better than when we began public service,” Torres told Saipan Tribune. “To all our youth, thank you for your participation as we strive to give you a better government when you are ready to run the government.”

Torres said the youth must be empowered so that they are provided with opportunities to pursue their dreams and “create their own stories of success.”

Kyle Thorne, a Marianas High School ongoing junior who was a Public School System commissioner for a day, noted that the experience was “hectic.”

“I see that the…bosses of the government departments [don’t have it] easy,” he said. “I did not get to see everything PSS [interim] commissioner Glenn Muňa does for his job, but I was able to [get involved] with the basics and the most important aspects of his role at PSS.

Thorne can sees himself in the same environment career-wise.

“I definitely think a career like this suits me because I get to advocate for…our student population. In order to have a successful economy we must [provide] our student’s education for a better tomorrow.”

Muňa, who spent the whole day with Thorne, told Saipan Tribune that the eight pairs of extra hands helped PSS and that he wishes for more participation in next year’s Youth Takeover Day.

“We took them to see all the different departments that support the schools,” he said. Muña also brought with him a small group of students to a Senate session on Thursday on Capitol Hill.

“…I wanted our students to also see that we don’t just sit in our offices. We also work with the legislative branch and our executive branch to advocate for our students. I am glad they were able to experience that,” he said.

Thorne spoke on behalf of Muña during the public comments section of the Senate session on Thursay, expressing the gratitude of PSS toward the Legislature for voting in favor of a supplemental budget bill that would give PSS about $3.7 million.

Jovanavin Dela Cruz, a senior of Da’ok Academy, job-shadowed Sen. Teresita Santos (R-Rota) during the Senate session.

“…It was a new experience and I am glad I came in to find out more of what senators had to go through to pass bills and laws,” he said, noting that it was a unique experience to be involved with the fate of bills instead of merely knowing the purpose and repercussions of a bill becoming law.

Dela Cruz said he sees himself helping the community just like the Legislature, but in a different aspect—not as a politician.

“I am hoping someday I can come back and talk with the Legislature to experience this again,” he said.

MHS senior Mayiah Dueňas was youth Senate president while job-shadowing Sen. President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan).

Dueňas told Saipan Tribune that she wishes to enter the U.S. military. She noted that she does not see herself as a politician in the future; however, she said she isn’t closing her doors to anything yet.

“I am just trying to get into the military right now. I am really focusing on that. Career-wise, I am not too sure yet,” she said.

Palacios told Saipan Tribune that the Youth Takeover Day also saw some action on the tertiary level, with Northern Marianas College being involved with the event.

“We are glad that Borja put it together again this year and we hope that they continue doing this [in the years to come],” he said.