MHS seniors receive tips for college

Various tips and information in preparation for college were presented to Marianas High School seniors during the Start Smart seminar conducted by the Northern Marianas College in collaboration with the CNMI Public School System Wednesday at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall.

NMC office of institutional advancement director Frankie Illiptico said 250 seniors from the oldest public high school in the CNMI attended the event.

Prior to Wednesday’s seminar, the college also conducted the same activity for nearly 300 seniors from Kagman High School and Saipan Southern High School, while 80 junior and senior students attended the same session at Tinian Jr./Sr. High School last week. Another Start Smart seminar is slated for Rota High School senior later this month.

Illiptico said the event, which is made possible by the College Access Challenge Grant of NMC, aims to expose graduating students to the different options they can take after their graduation, whether they choose NMC or other college and universities outside the CNMI.

This year marked NMC’s third annual Start Smart seminar and Illiptico said based on enrollment the past two years, the event helps boost enrollment at the college. Besides topics about how to start for college, participants were also exposed to available financial aids and scholarship programs.

The Start Smart seminar was graced by a handful of presenters who shared their education and job experiences, advices, tips, and challenges during their college years.

Among them was Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), who happily shared with participants the importance of getting a degree and the great benefit it could bring to their lives.

He encouraged and motivated students to make better preparation for their college. He advised students not to let any distraction come into their plans and stay focus on their goals to achieve what they desire.

For Jurysa DL. Guerrero, 17, the event served as an eye-opener to all graduating students. Beyond filling up college application form, she believes that students have to consider other factors before making a decision for college. Guerrero plans of joining the U.S. Air Force after high school and later pursue college.

Kyanna Tenorio, 17, said she was inspired and motivated by the stories she heard from presenters. She now plans of pursuing an elementary education or business degree at NMC so she could later serve the community.