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Sheyla Arana: First second generation Professional of Enseña Perú

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"Sense of excellence and improve the quality of the education in the country." These two phrases may sound incoherent for many, but when I was in senior year they were enough to find an answer to all of the questions and doubts that were in my head. I was in my last year of high school and it was my second year in the Major President Secondary School of Peru. I had the privilege of having a different education, in general the experience was wonderful. My family was happy and excited, dreaming about my future career. Almost everything was perfect. I say almost, because I wanted to be a teacher, a preschool teacher in Peru.

"No, you are going to die of hunger."

"Think better, you can do more.”

"Look how far you have gone and you are going to study to be a teacher? No Sheyla."

This is what I heard from my family and it is amazing to say that the words that I use to start this text make me have a change of heart, and it was because they were said by a lawyer that though that being a teacher was the best experience of her life.  

Sheila Arana was always a responsible and dedicated student who stood out for her effort and desire to learn, and that was why, while she was in her school in Cajamarca, she was chosen to attend the prestigious school Mayor President in Lima. It was there were she met Marcia Rivas (PEP 2011-2012), while Marcia was her teacher in senior year. They shared more than the courses and works, they formed a friendship based on respect and inspiration. For Marcia, Sheila became one of the reasons that reaffirm her commitment to education and for Sheila, Marcia was a key in making the decision to pursue her dream.

At the end of the school year Sheila told Marcia that she entered the National University of Trujillo and that she would study Education despite of the option of studying another career that was "better remunerated and valued". She also told Marcia that she was decided become a PEP, as Marcia was. They didn’t lost contact.

The years passed and at the end of 2016 Marcia, lawyer of profession and teacher of heart, was appointed Director General of the General Directorate of Specialized Educational Services in MINEDU. Sheila finished her career being the first of its class and convinced to apply to the program of Enseña Perú. One day in December, while Marcia was getting out of her office, she received a call from Sheila, where she told her that she had passed the selection process of Enseña Perú. "Teacher, I did it, I'm going to be PEP!", Sheyla told her. She was already part of the movement, now a member of the eighth cohort of PEPs. Sheyla thanked her because she felt she had been one of the people who inspired her to continue and achieve one of her dreams. Sheyla became the first second-generation PEP, the first ex-student of a PEP being a PEP!

“Now I will teach first grade in Santa Cruz de Mosna, a small village two and a half hours from the city of Huaráz, at 3200 meters above sea level, where there is no radio signal and the internet is very slow. A place that inspires me to work for the education of my country and were I have arrived with a backpack full of emotions and desires to continue learning. Two hard and wonderful years wait for me.” – Sheyla Arana.

Links:

• Learn more about Marcia Rivas