IslanderView Digital Magazine January 2018 | Page 19

" Be the change you want to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi DR.MATILDA NAPUTI RIVERA Remembering when I first met Matilda Naputi Rivera or “Dr. R”, as I call her, I am amazed. I’d started IslanderView back in 2010 while living in Sacra- mento. A friend of hers referred her to me and provided her contact infor- mation. We connected then and she was the one of the first features of Is- landerView. A year later, we returned to Guam, I met Dr. R when she returned to work with the Guam Department of Education, ESL program. It ’s important to note my impression of her was that of a single woman dedicated to educa- tion on our island as she was a member and volunteer to quite a few organi- zations! I don’t know how she does it!! I only just found out in 2016 that she was married with children when I met her husband at a wedding and was so surprised and even more amazed that she could all she does for her family and our island. Later you will see her own responses to IslanderView interview questions. Thank you, Dr. R, for all you do for your students, both GDOE and UOG. You are a blessing to our island. 19