Nothing is more rewarding for an educator than seeing the success of a student. At Na’atik we believe that our role is to provide our local students with all the tools they need to not only be successful, but to be successful in the path of their choosing. To open our students to the world of possible careers and then support them in reaching their full potential. English program leader Erick recently had the opportunity to speak with Landy, a former star student, who is now pursuing a career in science. She is one of a number of young women who have graduated from Na’atik and gone on to break into fields that have been traditionally dominated by men here in Mexico, helping to inspire their classmates and younger students alike. They discussed her experiences here at Na’atik and how they have impacted her since.

Could you introduce yourself a little bit to our readers? 

Landy: Hello everyone! My name is Landy Guadalupe Garcia Guillen. I am from Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo. I am 24 years old and have proudly graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatán. I am now a pharmaceutical chemist & biologist. I’m currently working in a clinical laboratory for SESA, which is the state health services here in Quintana Roo

I studied at Na'atik from the fifth grade of primary school, when I was about  10 years old, and stopped studying there when I was 17 years old, having reached an advanced level. I also had to prepare for college and it was a very heavy process and I wanted to focus on preparing as much as I could. 

Do you remember what your classes and teachers were like? 

Landy : Yes. I had many teachers over the years. However, each one brought a very interesting philosophy to the way they taught. There was a big difference in the way I was taught when I was younger and when I was older. I really liked the cultural insights I gained because there were teachers from all over the world and you learned about all the different cultures and different ways of pronouncing words that you have in English. That was interesting, if a little challenging. I feel that it was not only going to classes but the whole Na’atik experience was very enriching, both culturally and grammatically and the many ways it helped me to learn English. 

What did you learn from your English classes?

Landy: I really feel that I learned a lot because in addition to being able to communicate I was also able to read and understand things. It was not only learning the ABCs! We learned about writing, we did many listening exercises, and used books and movies to help us understand different types of communication. This is really useful because I have subsequently been able to apply this in University and in my work, being able to both understand things and then communicate in a clear and more assertive way.

What was the hardest part of the classes?

Landy:  The classes were about the right level for me. I think the hardest thing was to control my schedules because I was doing so many other activities, and fitting everything in was very hard, but I had to make learning English a priority. 

What made you decide to study chemistry?

Landy: It all started in school with doing well in a biology competition. My academic advisor saw my interest and was able to tell me about laboratory focused career paths and degrees. A few months before I had to decide what to study, I volunteered in a clinical laboratory. Seeing first-hand what they did I said to myself, “Wow, this is incredible, this is what I want to do!” The first push really did come from my advisor, Cincab, who really opened my eyes to the whole field of health sciences. He was a big source of motivation for me.

What was the hardest thing about getting into your field? What were the challenges you had to go through?

Landy: I think there’s been a bit of everything. It was not very easy. I took courses for a year before I could go to University in which I was assessed on different knowledge, both general and course-specific. Of course we all had to pass an English test. The same at University, but even harder. 

Since then it has remained challenging. What the books say is often obsolete and research is always changing and I must read them to stay up to date. These investigations are not all in Spanish, they are in different languages, whether Asian languages or English. However, many times the research that is in an Asian language has to be translated to English and then we can read it and gradually train our brain to understand scientific concepts and terminology in English. While I had learned the basics, I had to learn all of the new career specific words, as I would in any field.

I also faced the challenge of trying to progress as a woman in a male dominated field. There are still certain barriers, however opportunities are gradually opening up. It just meant I had to succeed in vocational examinations, I needed to do my best, to not only pass but to exceed expectations.

Even now that I have succeeded in reaching my goals, there are still always challenges.

How male dominated is the field?

Landy: Things are changing. There are more and more women entering the field, however those in positions of authority and the teachers are mostly men. There are also more men who get research published. There are more women than before, but we have not yet reached 50/50.

Did you feel that you were disadvantaged in your career because of your gender and if so, how was it possible to overcome those disadvantages?

Landy: Well I never felt at a disadvantage in terms of ability or knowledge, only sometimes in that others have a preconception of your capacity as a woman in the field. As we knew we were as capable as the men, the best approach was not to pay attention to others' views and to just demonstrate my ability, gain good qualifications and do good work.

Disadvantages in knowledge, not really. In knowledge we are similar. Perhaps only in the capacity that is thought the man or the woman has. While we knew quite well that we were capable. One did not pay much attention to it, but rather tried to strive to generate good work, to generate good qualifications and to demonstrate what one is capable of and that it is not only an area dominated by men. Then, gradually we made our way showing what we are capable of. 

How do you feel about being part of a very select group of people who are working in your field?

Landy: It makes me feel very happy, very proud of myself. It really wasn’t easy. While it was a big challenge, my hard work and preparation are what got me here. There are so few people who get the privilege to study this, especially here in the Peninsula where only two schools offer the course and there are fewer than 100 graduates every year.

Finally, Is there something you want to say to the next generation of girls and young women who  might have an interest in science or math but who think they are not for them?

Landy: I would like to tell, that we are more than capable! That if you open yourself to opportunities, you can really achieve any goal. The field of science is very beautiful and cool. There is always something new to learn and there is always something to discover. It is also great to be doing something that is to help people. You have to study a lot, but in the end everything is worth it.

A big thank you to Landy for taking the time to talk to us about her journey. We are all so proud of your success, and hope that our current cohort of students take inspiration from you. We look forward to hearing about everything you achieve in the future. You always have a home here at Na’atik.

To read more about our local education program, and how immersion experiences, online classes and donations help us to give local students access to opportunities that will help them create their own futures, check out our Impact page.  The Na’atik Library and Intercultural Activities Hub is funded 100% through generous donations.   We also have an Amazon Wishlist for supporters in Mexico and the US, with a list of books, games and educational resources which our students would love to have access to.

The opportunity to interact with our local students during events like this is a fantastic addition to our MaS language immersion program, which already offers unparalleled cultural and linguistic immersion. To inquire about reserving you immersion experience and making this the year you master Spanish or Yucatec Maya, contact the team on MaS@naatikmexico.org