From Guatemala to UWC Costa Rica
My name is Aileen López I am from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. It is one of the most culturally rich departments in Guatemala. It has many tourist attractions to visit, and we also have what is considered Guatemala's second national anthem, “Luna de Xelaju.”
I like to dance to help me express myself and gain more confidence. At home, I was part of the Lighthouse group, where I improved my empathy and conflict resolution skills and learned design to effectively communicate my ideas. For the love of art, I do everything I do. I also love doing physical activity because it relaxes me and gives me more energy.
There are four of us in my family: my mom, my brother, my dad, and me. They are all extroverts and love to help others; they inspire me to make a positive difference and work harder every day.
I applied to UWC because I always wanted to study abroad, and when I found UWC, I realized that studying abroad meant more than just leaving my home country, and that there was something beyond the education I could receive. What was also important was the impact I could make with that; I knew that if I got into UWC, it would not only impact me but also motivate others to be leaders in their own communities, so that everyone could achieve something this great, and that it's not just about migrating to seek better opportunities, but also remembering the country that saw me grow up, representing it high in front of such a diverse community.
My favorite UWC Costa Rica memory so far was the “firstie run.” An event the second years organized for us so that after the first day of classes, we would run around the residential area while they shouted and cheered us on. Then they gathered us all together to get us wet and then play music. I don't think I've ever felt so privileged to have an experience that I will never forget. That night, I only remember going back to my room, crying, and writing to my parents that I might never experience a day as beautiful as that one again. I danced, sang, got wet, laughed, took pictures, and hope to one day tell my children what my first day at UWC Costa Rica was like.
At UWC Costa Rica I have learned the ability we humans have to adapt and find our place in a community is incredibly fast.
At UWC Costa Rica I have learned the ability we humans have to adapt and find our place in a community is incredibly fast. UWC has taught me so many things that from the very first day, I was never the same person who got on the plane to leave my country. I have learned new words, new knowledge, new places, new people, new foods, new experiences, and I have gotten to know myself. But I think what I carry in my heart is how, in just a few months, I managed to create a family here, a place where I can trust and feel safe, with whom I share my joys and sorrows.
Thank you, Grieg Foundation. I hope (as my mother would say) that God will multiply everything you are doing for me. Thanks to you, today I am able to live this experience and receive a transformative education that will last a lifetime.
The foundation has been a great financial support for my family, but above all, it has been a blessing that came my way when opportunity and effort came together. Infinite thanks for supporting and believing in education as a means to a more transformative society, for believing in young people like us to obtain a privilege that is not granted to just anyone.
To whoever reads this, wherever you are, you changed my life, you changed my family, and you changed my education. Thank you.
Related stories
STORIES FROM OUR PRIORITY AREAS
All · Children & youth · Music & culture · Health & research · Climate action · Social impact investment