Letter of Appreciation from INSPA Scholarship Student, Tamagas Creek
The following is from Silvia, a young woman in medical school in Guatemala, who has written this eloquent letter thanking one of our TEACH supporters, John, for his assistance. It is translated from Spanish. John and all of you are good reasons why we empower students working for a better world.
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“Rejoice always.” Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will.
Esteemed Sponsor,
Receive my cordial greetings and warm regards from afar. I hope you are in good health. In the name of the Creator of Heaven and Earth, I wish you great success in everything you do.
The purpose of this letter is to introduce myself. I am Silvia, a 19-year-old and a second-year student in the seven-year-long medical studies course at the Eastern University Center – CUNORI-USAC.
Why do I want to be a physician? I made the decision to study Medicine simply because it is something innate in me because it fulfills a dream I’ve had since childhood, because it is part of me, and because I wish to protect people’s quality of life by devoting myself to patients, to prevention, to counseling, to research, and to the proper treatment of disease. I also want to help people who have not had an opportunity to get an education. I want to help others with what I know. I want to persuade young people like me to get ahead and become someone in life; but I know that the career I’ve chosen is not easy, and I trust that with God’s and your help, it will be possible for me to achieve my dream.
I want to tell you how 2021—my first year in college—went. All my classes were virtual. I started on the first day of February. My first week was rather difficult because the village where I live lost power for a week and there was no WIFI signal, but I succeeded in getting on the internet, although it wasn’t easy to connect. Every day, I went to a spot where there was a weak signal, and if the signal faltered, I climbed a tree to stay connected to my classes. When the classes ended, at about 3 p.m., I went to charge my devices at the home of a man who had a generator. In my first week, I met new people and made new friends. Some nights I went to bed at 2 or 3 a.m. after I finished my homework and read the materials for my next classes. There were times when I became anxious and stressed because, while studying for an exam, I would lose power or lose the signal; but God never abandoned me, and thanks to Him, everything was possible.
On February 1st, 2022 I will start my second year of medical school. I have already registered. Now I must buy my books. This year I will start studying English at the Calusac Language Learning Center. To be a physician we must reach English level 12. On February 4 I’ll take an English language placement test to see where I belong. All my classes will be virtual but, according to what we’ve been told, exams will be in person.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your decision to support me in my medical studies. My family does not have enough financial resources to pay for my tuition, school supplies, and books—medical school requires lots of them—tutoring, and internet expenses.
I pray to God and implore Him to protect you and bless you for being willing to support me. I promise that I won’t disappoint you and that I will never rest until I achieve my goal of becoming a physician. I promise to give it my best. I will improve my grades, turn in my homework, and never rest until I finish.
I also ask you most fervently to not stop helping me. Together, we can make this happen.
Thank you. I look forward to your reply. May this year bring good health to you and to your family and friends. You are held in very high regard. God bless you and protect you.
Sincerely,
Silvia
This photo of me was taken when I went to donate medicines in 2021. Thank you for trusting me!