Students get glimpse of work in ‘job shadowing’ program

Students join Saipan Chamber of Commerce officials after receiving their certificates for taking part in the SCC’s Career Exploration Day program yesterday at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort. (Jon Perez)

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Career Exploration Day gave participating students a brief glimpse of the work being done in some of the local businesses and companies on the island.

Marianas High School juniors Melissa Santos and Anjennette Cubangbang and Mt. Carmel School senior Joseph Muna were among the 59 students that were spread out in 27 companies that joined the program. Grace Christian Academy, Kagman High School, and Saipan Southern High School were the others schools that participated.

Santos chose Marianas Pacific Distributors where she was assigned to the sales and marketing department. She said that she had fun getting to know the people behind some of the products that are being sold in various stores on the island.

“We went to different stores and checked the products that are displayed on the shelves. And to also see if there are still stocks left, so we could know if the store would place a new order,” said Santos.

“I always like to try something new. I enjoyed the experience and I learned a lot from this program. I was not expecting that I would be able to do the things in sales and marketing,” added Santos, who plans to go into the medical field when she graduates.

For Cubangbang, taking part in the customer service division of IT&E gave her the chance to direct experience how calls are handled. She plans to take up filmmaking at University of Hawaii after high school.

Muna, meanwhile, experienced how reporters gather information before writing their stories for the next issue. He said he plans to become a writer as English is one of his strongest subjects in school.

“I really like writing essays and poems, that’s why I plan to take up English as my major in college. I’m going to the University of Guam in the spring semester since I was late with my application at Seattle University and University of Washington.”

“I’m also considering a career in journalism or to take up law. We’ll see next year. I’m looking at some colleges and universities in Oregon or Portland,” added Muna.

SCC executive director Jill M. Arenovski thanked the companies that took part in the program. “Thank you to so many of you who hosted a student for Career Exploration Day. This program is a great opportunity to introduce the benefits of and opportunities in private business to our islands’ students.”

I Love Saipan, Burger Comer Magliari, Calvo’s Insurance Underwriters, Select Care Health Plans, Chong’s Corp., CTSI Logistics, D&Q Saipan, DFS Saipan, Fiesta Resort & Spa, First Hawaiian Bank, Friends First Marketing, Hyatt Regency, IT&E, J.C. Tenorio Enterprises, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, Marianas Business Plaza, Marianas Visitors Authority, MARPAC, N15 Architecture Co., No Ka Oi Termite & Pest Control, Northern Marianas College, Pacific Insurance Underwriters, POI Aviation, Paradise Dental Center, SCC, Century Tours, Xerox Corp., and Saipan Tribune were the participating companies in the career program.