Olivia is bright young woman who is very proud of her Ngobe heritage. This pride was the theme of her application essay. "I want to fight and say that in our comarca (reservation) we can do many things if we try to reach our goals," she wrote. Olivia plans to help her community by becoming a health official and she understands that she must work very hard and focus on her studies to achieve her dream. Her teacher described her as positive, responsible, and observant, a quality which was apparent throughout her essay, but especially in her response regarding one of her favorite subjects in school. "One of my favorite subjects is informatica (technology) because it helps me to connect to the globalizing world in which we live and it will help me achieve my goal of being a health official."
School Year 2016
After graduating, my dream is to teach in a school in the Comarca, to work in education with the children and to form organized groups in my community and where I work. The knowledge that I will share are the things that I have learned in life from Jesus Christ who is the teacher, friend, and example who shows that above all else what we need is the LOVE that he had for humanity to save us and remove us from darkness. The training that I will need to reach this dream is that which I have learned from my family, in school, from my friends, but above all, the lessons of unity and love from my family. The resources that I will need are the opinions, time, and love for development and above all my willingness to serve others; when one wants to, they can. My favorite subject is natural sciences because it teaches me about life and the development o of human beings such as our identity as man and woman and how our body works. It also teaches me to value our natural resources like the fauna and flora and shows me that we must take care of our natural resources because there is only one beautiful creation.
School Year 2015
Diomedes Carpintero is a poised and dynamic young man who admires his father's community leadership and ability to move forward and push others to reach their full potential. He aspires to be like his father, becoming a science teacher so that he can help others in his community of Hato Rincón to achieve their goals. Diomedes will be the first in his family to graduate high school and his greatest dream is to use this education to help his family. Diomedes' brother is in a wheelchair and one of his teachers states that she has "seen in him the desire to succeed to help his brother." The same teacher describes him as "very dedicated, hard-working, dynamic and enthusiastic, a leader and a team player. I think if you can help him financially, nothing will stop him."
School Year 2014
Ramón has been inspired by his grandfather who focused on the importance of education as the Cacique of the community, although he himself did not have the opportunity to study. His grandfather's dedication to the Comarca and his concern for the community's needs has inspired Ramón to further his education so that he can be of service to his community. Described by one of his teachers as "dynamic and intelligent," Ramón prides himself on being responsible, punctual, and a good friend. After finishing his studies, Ramón hopes to be an agent for change and a leader in the Comarca "to help and serve" those within the community that need his support. Ramón is fortunate in that his family is very supportive of his educational goals as his father was able to study for 3 years post high school on a competitive scholarship to Honduras. Since his family doesn't have many resources, the FFC scholarship helps the family keep Ramón and his 6 siblings in school. Representative of the family's generosity, one of Ramón's 6 siblings was "gifted" to the family by very poor friends because the friends did not have enough money to feed, clothe, and send him to school.
School Year 2014