We have been really happy to see the Vasquez girls working hard. Ana and Silvia are back in school.

This year, however, Ana is having to find her own way through school. Last year she didn’t do well at all and the team decided that this year she wouldn’t be supported with a scholarship because she neglected to do her part. This isn’t the first time we have dealt with this from her and as hard as it is to enforce this rule, to quote Cristhian, “what is the point of us creating rules to encourage compliance if we don’t follow through with them?” We are happy to see, however, that Ana is doing very well this year so far! We have found that students and their families alike sometimes get complacent and don’t value enough their school scholarships. By withdrawing support for a year, we have seen a great increase in interest and desire. We explained that she has to prove to us that she is able and willing to do the work and we might consider helping her again the following year. She is off to a good start!

Silvia continues to work hard, although in her first bimester was faced with a troubling obstacle: her laptop crashed just before the end of the term and she lost all of her work! The teachers are giving her this second term to make up the work and submit it in order to avoid her grades being affected by not turning in her work.

Paola, although she graduated last October, just received her certified diploma (which is required to apply for jobs). So, now she is applying for jobs as a secretary while also babysitting next door to make some money.