My

Story

Joaquin

My name is Joaquin, I am from Sayula de Alemán, Veracruz, Mexico, and I work as a teacher at a technical secondary school in Minatitlán. My whole family, my uncles, my parents, my aunts have all been teachers, so I had the opportunity to say: “I want to do this too”. I am always proud when we are walking, and older people, engineers, doctors, come up and say to my father: “Teacher, you taught me to write, you taught me to read, teacher, do you remember that you gave me this?”. That’s very gratifying. In fact, I have also had the opportunity to experience that, where someone thanks you, and you realize you made a significant impact on the person and on society.

Five years ago, during the initial Young Coach Education, where I live, there were many kidnappings, deaths, even people beheaded. Then, the situation changed to the better – but only for 4 years. Now all this is returning again: Almost every week, every day you hear of people who lose their lives, leave their home to go buy something and never return – above all the children.

So I often wonder how I can make a change. And I do so from my trench, which is my classroom and my trainings. I try to motivate the children, so they do not get involved in this type of activities, and I correct them if they have an attitude that is not so appropriate in how to treat their classmates.
The impact I generate might feel like it is little, but I know that in the long run this little bit can grow into a very big mountain. Children tend to put their hearts in your hands, and they always make you smile or teach you something different. It has always been like that, by bringing out the best in me, I try to leave the best of me for them.

This is why since the first Young Coach Education I always try to talk to the children, I crouch down to their level and I see the trust they give you quickly because you are on their level. This has really helped because some kids need to talk about things, and unfortunately, there are tough, very difficult things they don’t trust just anyone with. I know it doesn’t solve the problem, but at least they understand the problems they can face, from domestic violence, abuse, to abuses by authorities and many other things. It is gratifying to be able to help them.

Right now, my plan after returning from this course is to start a club within the school. This education has generated a drastic change in me: before, I simply acknowledged the problems; now, I am concerned about the future I am creating and leaving behind. So this course will help me a lot because I know I will return to my classroom and put my grain of sand. Because there are 100-200 small persons in front of me every day, and I know – for the good or bad – I will always have an impact on them.