Mylin: From Student to Speech Therapist
Did you know that Mylin, our speech therapist, started her journey at the School of Hope as a student? She has been a part of our community in every building we've called home. We're thrilled that her journey with us inspired her to return to the school and give back to her community by supporting our students.
Roxana, our Communications and Marketing Coordinator, sat down with Mylin to chat about how her personal experiences at the school now shape her work with our students. Check out the full interview below to hear Mylin’s story—or read the original interview in Spanish here.
Roxana: Could you tell us about your journey from being a School of Hope student to your current position as a speech therapist?
Mylin: It’s been many years... Well, I've been with the foundation for quite some time now. It has been a journey of ups and downs for a multitude of reasons, in part due to the social stigma around a woman pursuing education. I am the first daughter in my family to graduate from university, with a degree in speech therapy. So for me, I think that's a positive outcome.
R: Why did you choose speech therapy as your career?
M: Initially, my goal was to become a doctor but I think that seeing this career as a way to give back to my community—the community that allowed me to pursue my education–this chance to touch lives, to change them, really resonated with me.
R: And how did you first find out about this career path?
M: It was through a vocational fair the Foundation accompanied me to; that's where I discovered this career.
R: So what motivated you to start working at the School of Hope?
M: The kids, the people. I come from that same community and I understand their needs. Therefore, I think that I was motivated by the idea of creating this new opportunity for them.
R: How has your personal experience as a School of Hope graduate influenced your approach to speech therapy with the students?
M: It's all about our shared background. I come from the same background and knowing firsthand the obstacles they can overcome inspires my approach to treat each child as their own unique world. That's why I work on a one-to-one basis with each and every one of them.
R: What challenges do people with special educational needs, particularly those who require speech therapy, face in Guatemala?
M: They often face challenges such as discrimination and barriers to learning, which result in them withdrawing from school. This leaves them unable to continue their educational journey. Later on, they are also likely to face problems at work or difficulty securing a job.
R: In your experience, is there adequate support for professionals like you to address these issues in Guatemala?
M: No, support is severely limited. A career in speech therapy is largely unheard of here in Guatemala. There are few institutions that offer training, very few. So that keeps many people in the field from adequately addressing these issues.
R: What does a day in your life as a school speech therapist look like?
M: Oh, it's quite hectic, but just as fulfilling. My job keeps me very busy because I provide both individual and group care, but I love to see the students making progress little by little.
R: What developments have you noticed in kids who received speech therapy from you?
M: I have seen them become more self-assured, more confident, more expressive in their language. They also show improvements at an academic level, so that's where many of them have made great strides.
Inspired by Mylin’s dedication?
Help us keep this vital service going by joining EFTC’s Nurture Network today. Your support ensures we can continue providing essential services like Mylin’s transformative speech therapy.
If you have further questions about the Nurture Network, our USA Executive Director Sara is always happy to help. You can reach her at sara.miller@eftcfoundation.org.
