by Krystal Paco

Guam - 236 University of Guam graduates turned their tassels on Sunday afternoon at the UOG 2013 fall commencement ceremonies.

Taking the stage as keynote speaker was Guam born Esther Kia'aina, the first deputy director for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources as well as President Barack Obama's recent nomination to serve as the U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary.

She said, "The best advice I could give you is to accept the circumstances in your life: your economic status, your education, the choices you have made and do not compare yourself to anyone else because it just doesn't matter anymore."

Of the fall 2013 graduating class, 67 received graduate degrees and 169 received undergraduate degrees.