Dinner with a Mentor — “Reaching for the Stars”

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG's Student Youth Employment Program's (SYEP) event themed “Reaching for the STARS,” highlighted SYEP students who were nominated by their private or government worksite as being an “SYEP Student of the Week,” having exhibited professionalism and excellent work ethic in the workplace.

Bluesky Communications CEO Justin Tuiasosopo, who is the vice chair of the American Samoa Workforce Development Board (ASWDB), delivered the keynote address and challenged students to go out there and be “superstars.” He said American Samoa needs many superstars to grow the economy and island home.

Tuiasosopo said the SYEP is one of the programs the ASWDB puts on in an effort to train students and improve the territory’s workforce. He added that the territory needs to move away from “awarding participation trophies” or giving everybody the same reward even though some work harder and invest more in their jobs than others. “Everybody wants to get paid the same amount of money then you need to give the same amount of effort and have the same amount of qualifications,” he said. “You can’t be asking for more money if you’re not fully invested in what you’re trying to do.”

Tuiasosopo encouraged the students to choose a field that they’re passionate about, that gets them up in the morning because they're excited to do it. The Dinner with Mentor Event was hosted by ASG HR, which oversees the SYEP.