It’s okay to fail; it’s the getting up that counts—Pangelinan

Live Your Dream award recipient Rachel Ashley Reyes, center, joins CNMI Public School System Commissioner Yvonne R. Pangelinan, right, Soroptimist International of Northern Mariana Islands Jill Arenovski, and a guest in last week’s event. (Jon Perez)

Yvonne R. Pangelinan had already lost count of how many times she has failed in life. But she has always stood up after each fall and tries once again no matter how many times she is unsuccessful.

“Life goes on. We need to remind our kids, especially girls, that it is okay to fail. …We can’t perpetuate the message that if you fail, that’s it for you,” said Pangelinan, who was acting CNMI Education Commissioner for almost two months.

Pangelinan was last week’s guest speaker during the Soroptimist International of Northern Mariana Islands Live Your Dream event where they gave Rachel Ashley Reyes financial assistance for being the lone wage earner in her family while finishing her education degree.

“We have to tell them that it’s okay to fail. If you fail, get back up and try again. You must keep on trying and moving until you achieve your goals and you become satisfied with the outcome,” added Pangelinan, who served as the CNMI Public School System Student and Support Services associate commissioner before being hired as CNMI Education Commissioner.

SINMI officials chose Pangelinan for being an inspiration to women in the CNMI, someone who has consistently advocated for education for the youth of the Commonwealth and pushed for women empowerment.

Pangelinan said the CNMI’s youth should grab every opportunity they encounter. “There’s a lot of kids who have missed their opportunity and had broken dreams but it is our job to remind them that no matter how many times they fall there’s always a second chance.”

“It is even more fulfilling when you achieve something or you fulfilled a lifelong dream after failing. Our job as educators is to provide that and remind our children to strive harder.”

She said that letting young girls know about successful women in the CNMI would inspire them to follow in their footsteps. “We need to expose them to all the women in the CNMI who have done such a wonderful job as lawmakers, entrepreneurs, and just following their dreams.”

“Women who never gave up despite all the challenges they faced. We need these women to be household names. We need all our girls to know that there are local women leaders who they can look up to.”

Pangelinan added the youth of the CNMI should be exposed to women leaders. “There are a lot here in the CNMI but we don’t talk about them enough. Like Michelle Sablan and Merissa Rasa who are entrepreneurs.”

“So our girls need to know these people. Role models they can look up to aside from those who they read in textbooks. We have to expose them.”