I also covered a Junior Achievement event, where I learned alongside high school students about the Sustainable Development Goals and the circular economy through an in-depth presentation. The experience made me think more about how sustainability and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand, especially as young entrepreneurs explore ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses.

Later, I attended the launch of the second G3 GROW Corps cohort. While it was inspiring to see people passionate about protecting our island’s land and sea, what stood out to me was learning about the cultural practices incorporated into these initiatives. I learned that chants are traditionally performed before certain activities involving the land and sea, such as tree planting, as a way of showing respect to our ancestors who came before us. It was something I hadn’t known before, and I appreciated getting to learn about the cultural significance behind these practices.

Another first was conducting a podcast interview for The Local Catch with Joey Certeza about an upcoming cultural immersion trip to Sabah, Malaysia. I was nervous initially, but as the conversation went on, I almost forgot we were recording. I became so interested in hearing about what he was looking forward to seeing and experiencing that the conversation started to feel more natural.

As the week comes to a close, we’re also preparing for an approaching typhoon here on Guam, making an already eventful week a little busier.

Overall, it’s been a week of learning, meeting new people, and getting more comfortable with new experiences. I’m looking forward to what the next few weeks of my internship will bring.