Daysi

Daysi is a warm, outgoing psychology major at UNICAH who looks back fondly on her time at Mayatan. Her dream is to eventually return to Copán Ruinas to live and practice psychology, a profession that is gaining ground in Honduras, and she would like to primarily treat the poor.

Daysi believes that Mayatan prepared her well for her life plans, and she wouldn't have any doubts about sending her children here one day. Although she feels most at home here, she is not a native Copaneca -- Daysi moved from Ocotepeque to Copán Ruinas at the age of 9.

Unlike her younger sister, a Mayatan high school student who started learning English in kindergarten, Daysi was a little bit behind when she started her bilingual education. Her first year was full of hard work catching up to students from her age group. Daysi spent her first 3 months in 2nd grade and finished out the year in 3rd grade, where Mr. Josh helped her adjust. That first summer wasn't exactly a vacation either: she worked on math and English with Mr. Frank Hopkins so that she would be prepared for the jump to 5th grade when school started again.

Despite these challenges, Daysi says she made friends easily and adapted to Mayatan well thanks to her teachers and classmates. She learned to love reading, especially in English, which began in 3rd grade with her first spelling bee and reading competition. Even today, Daysi reads romance novels and books by Anne Rice and Nicholas Sparks in English. Mayatan has obviously stuck with her in many ways.

Following Mayatan, Daysi attended colegio in San Pedro Sula. She is back in San Pedro for university even though being in the city makes her miss the trees and nature of Copán Ruinas, even the swamp that used to be our soccer field. She also looks back fondly on carrying the flag in the Independence Day Parade and performing as Lady MacBeth in Shakespeare in the Park, organized by Miss Becca and Mr. David.

Until she returns to Copán, however, Daysi is bent on becoming a world traveler. She hopes to move to another country following university in Honduras and receive her MA in psychopathology. And in August 2011, she is going to Madrid to attend a Catholic youth council. We look forward to the day when Daysi will return to Copán, and we know she is capable of  following through on all her life goals.