Some education G.E.M.S.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan made the following remarks in his keynote speech to NMC’s 43rd Commencement Exercises last May 17, 2024. “When I ran for that seat and people asked me why, I had a simple answer: Education. Education. Education. In politics you keep your message simple. And it does not get much simpler than simply repeating the same word over and over: Education, Education, Education.”
Mudita (a Sanskrit word) is a dharmic concept of joy, particularly and especially sympathetic or vicarious joy—the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being. Perhaps it is the antithesis of jealousy. I have mudita for all the graduates, their learning and lifelong education.
CNMI High School Graduation Quiz 2024
What you gonna say about your own graduation?
How you gonna grade/assess your own education?
What you gonna do about your present situation?
working out your boyfriends/girlfriends complications?
Are you going off island or are you staying here?
What’s your future plans? What do you want or need?
Will you drink in more knowledge or more cold beer?
Will you be driving fast cars and smoking local weed?
What’s the most important thing in life? Can you guess?
My mother always said it was good health and happiness
We all need food , clothing, and shelter, and lots of love
It can come from friends and family or heaven above
No matter where you go, no matter what you gonna do
Remember love and kindness; To your own self be true.
HS education YESTERDAY TODAY and TOMORROW
“Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must
be readers.”—POTUS 33 Harry S. Truman
As you turn what for some is formal education’s last page
you think about the past, present, all the long tomorrows
as you get your diploma walking across the graduation stage
with memories of friends, family, happiness and sorrows.
Do you remember when Juan got in trouble and Maria did this
that party on the beach when you first got drunk drinking beer
when you finally got serious enough and gave your first kiss
when you were scared to drive when learning how to steer?
Today is going like a flash, time slips away, a comet in the sky
you may ask yourself ‘I wonder why I really wonder why?
Today you’ll get words of wisdom from parents and teachers
and wisecracks and jokes from those up in the bleachers.
Keep learning forever! Keep learning your entire adult life
teach others, your sisters, brothers, children, husband, wife.
Joey aka “Pepe Batbon” Connolly is a retired educator who taught in the CNMI, NOLA, and LVNV. He is the Poet Laureate of Tinian and enjoys stargazing.
