For Adriana, a rising 7th grader, the journey to enter Colegio Horizontes was filled with excitement and hope. With a passion for math and a dream of becoming an accountant—a career reserved for men until recently—she’s ready to embrace the opportunities ahead. “I am excited to learn new things next year so that I can be a professional when I grow up,” she shares.
Adriana’s path hasn’t been easy. After losing her mother at a young age, she grew up with her father and stepmother, neither of whom had the chance to attend school since they grew up during the Guatemalan Civil War. Nevertheless, her family has always encouraged her to pursue education: “My dad wants me to have a professional career and not be a housewife,” she says with pride.
Much of Adriana’s academic foundation comes from the Limitless Horizons Ixil Saber sin Limites (Limitless Knowledge) Community Library, where she learned to read and found support for her studies. “Since I was five years old, I would go to the library in the morning before public school classes in the afternoon. That’s where I learned to read,” she recalls.
Now, as she transitions to Colegio Horizontes, Adriana is inspired by the respectful and engaging environment she’s already experienced through LHI’s programs. “Compared to my old school, students here are more respectful—they raise their hands to speak and use phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘I believe’ to help start a conversation,” she explains.
With her determination and the support of Colegio Horizontes, Adriana isn’t just excited for her own future—she’s also motivated to make her family proud. As she embraces her future at Colegio Horizontes, Adriana’s aspirations remind us of the power of education to open limitless horizons for countless future generations of Indigenous girls in Chajul.
