Largest all-boys school in Osaka, Japan celebrates 20th visit to Guam
Ever wondered how people perform their jobs across the globe? Or what it would be like to step into the shoes of your future aspirations? For the Kokoku High School students from Osaka, Japan, this dream became a reality as they marked their 20th visit to Guam with a special trip to meet our island's first responders.
But it’s not just a trip - it’s an opportunity for students to see how their dream jobs are done in the real world, witnessing it first-hand. Yoko Kusajima is the school’s principal, and told KUAM News, “We have 2,500 boys in our high school, and this tour is only for ones who want to be firefighters, policemen, and kindergarten teachers.”
Ones like high school junior Seishi Yuki, who has a fire in his heart for this profession. “I want to become a fireman," he shared.
Yuki and his classmates got a taste of what that entails at the Guam Fire Department’s Dededo Station, which serves the island’s largest population. From simulations to demonstrations, as Lieutenant James A. Pangelinan showed, “One minute to get ready to respond to a fire. So now, we have a volunteer with one minute to get ready.”
It was a day sparking inspiration for these young learners. Langelinan leaving this piece of advice for those looking to walk in his fire boots. “Every day, we handle emergencies, and every emergency is not the same. So, we always have to prepare ourselves for the one that’s gonna call on us.”
“Strive to do your best, always wanting to do more for your community, especially your people–for us, our island.”
The students also visiting the Guam Police Department, a local school, and ending their tour by sharing a bit of their culture—a dance called the Yosakoi.