September is ASL and Deaf Awareness Month—a time to recognize the language, culture, and contributions of the deaf community. And here on island, students of the Guam Deaf Academy are preparing to make history of their own. Next month, they’ll travel to Tokyo to take part in the 2025 Deaflympics—many flying for the very first time. It’s a journey about more than travel: it’s about representation, connection, and being seen on a global stage. 

This September, the spotlight is on the deaf community. It’s a time to celebrate the power of language and the importance of inclusion. And right here in Hagat, students of the Guam Deaf Academy at Career Tech are writing their own story. Next month, they’ll travel to Tokyo to take part in the 2025 Deaflympics—an international gathering where deaf students and communities from across the globe come together in language, culture, sports and connection.

And making that happen is the students part of the Deaf Club. 

This isn’t about competition—it’s about exposure, culture, and pride. Our students will see that they’re part of a worldwide community. Members said, "We're here trying to fundraise to try and go to the Deaflympics in Japan; for the past 2-3 years we have been fundraising money so we can open our minds and meet other deaf people."

For many of these students, this will be a first: their first time boarding a plane, first time leaving the island, and first time meeting peers who share their language—American Sign Language—and their experiences.

Myra Mendiola said, "I am the deaf teacher here, I'm from Guam born and raised and I'm the teacher for Career Tech for the past 3 years."

The Deaflympics is something they have been fundraising for quite some time but well worth it.  "It's about 5,000 people from 30 different countries, all deaf athletes and held in Tokyo. Most of the time it's in Europe but this is the first time its in Asia," she said.

But the journey comes with a price tag. Airfare, lodging, and meals all add up—and that’s why the academy has turned to the community and school for support. "To go to a place different it opens their mind- the culture, the language is different, the food is different and we just want to expose that to them," she said.

Every fundraiser, every donation brings them one step closer to Tokyo. Supporters say it’s more than a trip—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to broaden horizons and inspire confidence. "It’s life-changing. They’ll see they belong to something bigger—that being deaf is not a limitation, it’s a connection," she said.

From Hagat to Tokyo, the road is filled with determination and hope. And as ASL and Deaf Awareness Month reminds us, inclusion is about more than awareness—it’s about action. She said, "If you have deaf children or you are deaf in the community. Everybody can learn sign."

For these students, the Deaflympics is the world saying: we see you, we celebrate you, and your voice matters.

Mendiola added, "We want to thank everyone who has been helping and who has remembered us."