As a freshman at the University of Guam, Blas is already juggling a full plate: leading club activities, managing social media, studying public administration, and starting for the Triton Men’s volleyball team.

And he’s just getting started.

“It’s a little stressful being the underdog,” he says, laughing. “But you know, I can get the job done.” 

Leading From the Back Row

As an 18-year-old freshman, Jed is serving as the public information officer for the Public Administration and Legal Studies (PALS) Club.

He runs the club’s Instagram account and handles event promos, including flyers he designs himself using Canva — a Christmas gift that he begged for from his grandmother.

“I love Canva so much,” he says. “I made a lot of posts, and I like the digital art side of it. It’s one of my favorite things to do.”

And if that wasn’t enough, he’s the starting libero for the top-seeded Triton Men’s volleyball team. His love for the sport was a departure from family tradition.

“My family mostly played basketball, but I didn’t like it,” he says. “I wanted to try something different.”

He gave soccer and tennis a shot before landing on volleyball. “Out of all the sports I tried, volleyball caught my interest. I just put in the hard work and dedication,” he says.

With a championship match just ahead at the time of this interview, Blas’s underdog role was shifting fast, from overlooked to indispensable.

UPDATE: In what was described by Triton Athletics as “one of the most exciting matches in Triton Men’s Volleyball League history,” the Phantoms captured the league championship with a dramatic 3–2 victory over the top-seeded UOG Tritons on October 7th, at the UOG Calvo Field House. 

A Fresh Start, Close to Home

A 2024 graduate of St. Paul Christian School, Blas originally planned to study off-island. But after learning more about UOG’s programs — and hearing a strong recommendation from his grandmother, a former AmeriCorps board member — he changed course.

“I was wanting to go to Hawai‘i at first,” he says. “But the Gen Eds are the same here, and it’s more affordable here.”

Blas shares that being close to loved ones was also an important reason to stay. “My grandma does a lot for me, and my family is here.”

A public administration major, Blas is thinking about his future in government or leadership — a natural fit for someone who’s been in student council since sixth grade and served as student body president at St. Paul. 

Finding His Flow on Campus

As a first-year student, Blas has found his rhythm — and his favorite spots on campus. He swears by the chicken special at Crosswalk Café, a routine he shares almost daily with friends.

“I probably get it five times a week,” he admits. “Then we go to the School of Health and chill there. It’s really peaceful.”

He’s also been impressed by and grateful for how much support UOG provides new students: “Something unexpected was definitely the mentoring here. I learned so much about the programs UOG has to offer, like Handshake and the Triton Advising Center. We also have the Writing Center and the Math Tutor Lab.”
He says the Triton Summer Academy stood out as a great support to incoming freshmen. “I did that during the summer, and it was just unexpected, the amount of help that I received.” 

Looking Ahead

Blas’s current goals are focused: pull off a successful Halloween event for PALS and maintain strong grades through his first year. But underneath those immediate goals is a deeper drive — to prove himself, not just as a student or athlete, but as a leader in the making.

And no matter what role he plays — on the court or in the classroom — Jed Blas, “the underdog,” shows up ready.