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Follow Six STF Scholars as They Begin High School in Guatemala!

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(Above photo: Monica is joined by her parents during a Starfish mentoring session. Monica wants to pursue a teaching degree following her high school graduation.)

“Las Hormiguitas” (the ants), a mentorship group that includes six She’s The First scholars in Guatemala, have recently started high school! The 15-to-19  year-old scholars come from different communities and may even attend  different  schools, but they all share a passion for education, a desire to make an  impact in  their communities and a dream to help their families.

STF scholar Juana, wearing the purple huipil (a traditional Mayan blouse), and her mentor, Celena

STF scholar Juana, wearing the purple huipil. (a traditional Mayan blouse), and her mentor, Celena

The scholars’ mentorship group is led by Mentor Celena, a former STF Scholar  herself. Starfish One by One, our partner school in Guatemala,  uses a  mentorship  model to guide young women through their education. Mentors meet  with groups  weekly to provide academic support and teach leadership and life  skills, such as  managing personal finances and social responsibility.

During a recent Starfish mentoring session, “Las Hormiguitas” shared their first  impressions, challenges and hopes as they start “Diversificado” (the equivalent of  high school). Read below to meet these featured scholars!

What has been your favorite part of high school so far? 

Mirla: When they began to teach us about teaching children, because I want to get a degree in teaching. They’re teaching us how to lead interesting classes, strategies to ensure that the children don’t get bored, and methods so that students learn quickly. I hope to become a teacher to improve the education system here.

Juana Priscila: My favorite part is that they are teaching us useful things, which will help us when we begin university. For example, how to write well and have good handwriting. My favorite classes are physical education and math, but in university I want to major in medicine so that I can help other people.

Monica: My favorite part has been taking new classes, specifically project elaboration, where you learn how to design projects that improve communities. I also like pedagogy. I want to pursue a teaching degree after high school, and teach all levels of primary school, first through sixth grade…I love working with children!

Juana: I’ve enjoyed meeting new, friendly classmates and entering into new classes that weren’t offered in my previous school. For example, I am currently taking classes in teaching, technical skills, and history. Outside of those, I really like my Spanish class because I am learning lots of new words!

What has been the biggest challenge?

Lily: The biggest challenge has been traveling between my home and school, because they are in different communities. I live in Las Canoas, and the school is in San Andres. It should only take 15 minutes to get from one to the other, but the transportation is unpredictable and sometimes I have to wait for a long time.

Magdalena: At the moment, as we are just beginning, there haven’t been any great challenges. In the future I anticipate that completing my homework will be difficult, because I am working Monday through Friday and only have time to study on Saturdays. I work in Guatemala City, doing domestic work like cleaning houses, so I spend a lot of time traveling there and almost don’t have time to do homework. But I’ll just have to do my best to finish it.

Mirla: Right now my father has a back injury, so he can barely work. Therefore, my mother has picked up more jobs and is very busy all of the time. Sometimes I feel lonely and discouraged, like I don’t want to continue my studies. It is difficult because there are eight of us siblings, and my mother needs to support all of our schooling. And although Starfish is helping me, I have many more siblings who are not receiving financial aid.

What are you most excited for in this school year?

Lily: I am excited for all of the cultural activities that we’ll do, especially the Independence Day celebration on September 15th. There will be bands, costumes, and competitions. In addition, I hope to earn good grades in all of my classes this year.

Juana Pricilla: I am very excited to become a better student and earn good grades in my courses. I want to make my parents proud, because they have supported me immensely. My mother didn’t study, and my father only completed the sixth grade. Currently, my mother sells artisan goods in Antigua, Guatemala. Once I am working and have a good income, I hope to improve her life and that of my father.

Juana: I am excited to earn good grades and prepare myself for my university degree. I want to pursue nursing and become a doctor’s assistant. I am very interested in the area of medicine.

What would you like to learn this year?

 Mirla: I would like to learn English, because my dream has always been to travel outside of Guatemala and be a teacher somewhere else. I would like to go to France, or the U.S., or Cuba… It is also my mother’s dream to see other parts of the world, and she hopes that one-day I can take her with me.

Magdalena: I want to learn more about accounting: for example, how to form a budget and write a balance. At the moment these things are a bit difficult for me, but with time I hope to improve. I would like to get a degree in accounting, and one-day work for a business that sells some type of products.

Juana Pricilla: I want to learn to speak English, because in middle school they taught us some English, but not how to have conversations like this one. We learned words and how to pronounce them, but now we are actually learning to talk. In the future I hope to use English to meet and talk to more foreigners, like you.

Monica: I want to work on self-development and learn to speak in public, in front of all of my classmates, without being embarrassed.

Juana: I would like to learn the English language. I’m excited because this year Starfish is giving us classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Right now we are learning how to ask basic questions, like “What is your name?” I really want to learn English because if I work in a hospital one day, I will be able to translate for foreign patients.

Do you feel that you have changed as a student since entering the Starfish program? How so?

Lily: Yes, I have changed. I’ve become more empowered, and less afraid of speaking up. Some of my classmates are too shy to participate, but with the help of Starfish, I have developed a strong voice. Now I’m trying to take more initiative.

Magdalena: Yes, I have changed. I participate more in class, and I turn in my homework on time now. When I was in middle school I often didn’t do my homework, or I left it until the last minute. When I didn’t understand something, I just left it undone. But now I am becoming more active, and I always turn in my homework from all four of my classes.

Mirla: Yes, my way of thinking has changed. When primary school ended, I said that I didn’t want to continue studying, that more school wouldn’t serve me, that it would be better if I started working. But when I began the Starfish program everyone encouraged and supported me to keep moving forward. I now believe that I have a promising future, and that I can help other people in my community. I have really enjoyed my time with Starfish, because of all of the support I’ve received. I am motivated to get good grades so that they feel proud of me.

Monica: Yes, because before I was very timid and I didn’t like talking…I felt embarrassed. But Starfish teaches us to talk and to not be shy. The activity at Starfish that has helped me most in this area is speaking in front of all the girls’ parents during meetings.

Juana: Yes, I’ve changed a lot. Before, I couldn’t speak much Spanish, and on certain occasions I wanted to abandon my studies due to family problems. I was at the point of dropping school when my father found this opportunity for me. Since beginning with Starfish my entire life has changed…I am now much more responsible and respectful, and I have more self-love.

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 The Hormiguitas still have a long road ahead of them, but based on these short  conversations with the scholars, it is clear they are determined to overcome hardship  in  their personal lives and succeed in school.

 After graduating, scholars may choose to continue on to university, find jobs or open a small  business. With Celena’s guidance, as well as the support of STF and Starfish, “The  Hormiguitas” are bound for success in whatever they choose to do!

*Photo credit to Laurie Baxter, a Starfish One by One supporter, and special thanks to Emily Stabler, a Starfish intern, for interviewing “The Hormiguitas” in Guatemala.


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