Miguel.

This post is pure bragging about one of our boys. Miguel came to us when he was 8 years old and is now 19 years old. His history before coming to us had been a hard one full of abuse.  Some people never learn how to overcome that kind of history and learn to succeed in this life.

He attended regular school until 3 years ago when a private school opened up here in Parramos. It is run by an American and there is a greater emphasis on learning and especially in Math. When Miguel started attending this school, due to poor education in the past, he was behind in most subjects. Within the first bi-mester he had improved a lot and by the end of the second bi-mester, he was in the top group of students in the school. That doesn't just happen. Miguel worked hard and studied and worked towards his goal.

For 2 years he studied at that school and when he graduated last year he was at the top. He had won 3rd place in a math olympics that included thousands of kids. He won 2 other medals for achievements I don't remember. But he was obviously an accomplished young man and I took pride watching him make the good-bye speech for his class.
Here in Guatemala they finish to the end of grade 9 (which Miguel did) and then have to choose a career path to work towards for the next 3 years. Then they can continue another 3 years in a university. Miguel won a scholarship and then was sponsored by someone in the U.S. so that he could attend a good school in the field that he chose.

He wanted to do digital electronics. He has done well this last year. He has struggled a little with the new math that has come up but he fights on. He studies and has brought his marks up. He has top marks in english. Literally. He came home with a 99% this last bi-mester. He is doing very well in physical chemistry as well.

He is taking his final exams this week. Two days ago he wanted to show me his project. He had put together a clap on/clap off light. By himself! He just had a diagram to go by and he had to weld the little wires together (of course there is much  more it is than that!) and make sure it was working. He was the first student in his class to do it successfully. And as of a couple of days ago there were still 4 out of 10 in the class that didn't have it functioning.

 We are so proud of him!