Bartolo Simaj Cotiy
22-year-old Bartolo is the middle child of seven. He lives in Xejuyup, Sololá where his family works in subsistence farming. Bartolo currently works as an attendant at a book store and as a type writing teacher. He is a strong leader in his church´s youth group and says that he hopes to always work with youth because they are very susceptible to influences whether good or bad. Bartolo graduated at the top of his high school class and is currently in his second year at the University Panamericana studying to become a high school teacher. (Meet more scholars...)
Q&A with Bartolo Simaj Cotiy – November 2010
Question: How long do you have before you graduate and what are you graduating in?
Bartolo: I have already obtained a degree and been certified as a Middle School Teacher in Pedagogy and Social Sciences. I'm currently studying to gain my Licenciatura (5-year BA) in Education Management, I have one semester left.
Question: What will you do once you graduate?
Bartolo: After I graduate I would like to earn a scholarship to study a Master's Degree in Education Management outside my country, because I know that learning never ends – there's always room for improvement through education, and only death can stop it.
Question: How has Roots and Wings helped you reach your goals?
Bartolo: Roots and Wings is the opportunity of my life. They have helped so much in my family. We are several siblings and my parents do not have any income. One of my brothers fell sick and we had to invest a lot in him, because his illness lasted for many years. For the past 4 years I have been paying for two of my brother's expenses. One of them is training to become a teacher, the other finished school this year and I'm thinking about him applying to college, something I can't afford just yet because I have another sister to provide for. I want them to be like me. Thanks to Roots and Wings and the people supporting us internationally I can provide for an education for my siblings.
Question: Can you comment on your experiences with Roots and Wings?
Bartolo: I was surprised to be elected the first scholar as the most brilliant student in my class. Roots and Wings is helping the young to continue to higher education and making people see it as a normal thing to do.
The year is coming to an end, Happy Holidays everyone! God bless you and thank you for contacting me. It's my pleasure to share my story with people from other countries.
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