20-year-old to pursue masters in UH-Manoa

Life’s achievements are not limited to fleeting joys in high school, as young lass Kasandra Borja Santos came to learn quickly.

Santos left last Wednesday to pursue a masters degree in Education Development at the University of Hawaii in Manoa and she’s only 20 years old.

She skipped senior high school and passed the eligibility test at the Northern Marianas College to immediately pursue a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

She finished her degree just last Dec. 9 but she will be joining this year’s graduates in May for the commencement exercises.

Santos said she has always considered herself to be more mature than her other classmates in high school. When she began taking classes at NMC, she realized that she enjoyed college life more than her years in high school.

The young lady said she is like any other girl in the CNMI, in spite of her prowess in academics.

She said she’s one of those who love to have their nails done almost everyday. “Girl thing,” she said.

She likes to read a lot but prefers to read educational books over fictional titles.

“I have my MagicSing now,” Santos quipped. She said she has always have the passion for music and the only outlet she considers is through belting it all out inside their house. Though, she regards herself as a very laid-back person, she said, she always manages to perform activities that always stimulate her mind.

Her friends consider Santos to be the sweetest friend they have ever met, Santos said, adding that her openness to people and the care that she shows to them never fail to build strong relationships with friends and colleagues.

An only child of Almondo and Annie Santos, this future CNMI teacher said that after she finishes her masters in Hawaii, she would definitely come back to Saipan where she dreams of imparting knowledge to the islands’ youth.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher since I was in elementary,” she said, adding that being a teacher is important because sharing quality education is the best for the future of the Commonwealth.

Santos said she wants to touch the young community members especially the teenagers that just like her, if they put their hearts into something they would love to do, everything will be possible to achieve.

Aside from her dear parents she is also dedicating her achievements to her mentors like her adviser Sarah Osbourne, Debra Cabrera, Brante Dashiell, Edward Camacho, and to her late grandmother Marcelina Santos.

Santos said her acceptance to the University of Hawaii in Manoa would not have been possible without the encouragements of her dear friend Evelyn Taylor.

One thing she would like the current young generation in the CNMI to know is that they should stay motivated and focus on what they do, “Because that’s the key for success,” she said.