This month we received really exciting news from one of our students from the Youth Education Program, Junior Johany Cúmes Martin, who is in his sixth semester studying Graphic Design and Advertising.

Hi Junior. Tell us about your positive experience this month, November 2016.

This month we´ve hosted the event “2016 Arcadia,” which is organized by students studying Graphic Design in their sixth semester at the Mesoamerican University. It is an event that brings together internationally renowned speakers in different areas of Graphic Design. It culminates in the Award Gala, which recognizes and rewards the talent and ingenuity of outstanding students from different areas of Graphic Design at the university level.

This year I had the privilege of being nominated as “Designer of the Year“. This is the second time I have been nominated—the first time was in 2014. I got the opportunity to work in the Packaging category with the packing cereal “Fruty Monster“, and my piece was nominated.

I also participated in another project called “Hashtag Branding Studio,” which was a project I worked on with another student. We were nominated in the Corporate Identity category and were lucky enough to win the award for the best work.

I want to thank everyone who made this possible and for the work you do each day to support so many students like me. My sincerest appreciation.

Thank you Junior and congratulations— that is great news. Can you also tell us what education means to you?

For me, education is the opportunity to acquire knowledge, values, and even adopt appropriate and productive behavior for society. The first and most important education someone can receive is one aquired at home because that is where a person’s ethical and moral values are forged. I have been very blessed to grow up in a family where this education has been present since my childhood, and now I thank my parents for it.
On the other hand there is the formal education that consists of systems and pedagogical techniques to transmit knowledge according to the different academic degrees. In today’s society, this is considered a human right, but in our country [Guatemala], for many children, formal education is overshadowed by the obligations and responsibilities they acquire at an early age.

What is your source of inspiration?

I am inspired by the work of many of the professionals and lecturers who visit us at the university; they have transcended with their work, and they have dedicated themselves and their efforts to achieving their goals. But what inspires me the most are my parents; to see how they dedicate themselves and to perceive their enthusiasm for doing things right is the closest and most inspiring example that I have, and I try to imitate it every day.

How do you imagine your life if you had not had the opportunity to study?

I believe that education is a tool that gives us many opportunities, but if I had not had the opportunity to study, I would not let that impediment limit me. On the contrary, I would choose to learn through experience to develop empirical learning as many people have done, and I would not be the exception.

We are very grateful that Junior shared his story with us and for his strong will to achieve his university degree. You can also learn more about our Youth Education Program and join our Crowdrise campaign.