My name is Josue Arlen Carrasco Gonzalez. I am a 24 years old single person. I received support from Asla my last (5th) year of high school and all 5 years of the university. When I was in my fourth year of high school my father became sick and that is when my mother went to talk with Nola. I live with my family—my mom and dad, 13 year old sister and my grandmother – in Venecia, a community outside of Condega. After I graduated from high school I went on to the university majoring in English. I am very happy to be interviewed for this article because we are so grateful for the help of my sponsors and the Asla Foundation for supporting me in my studies and improving my life.
Josue received a scholarship for six years, graduating in 2020 with a college degree in English.
In 2020 I graduated from Martin Luther University in Ocotol which is about an hour bus ride from Condega and 2 hours from my home. I was very lucky to receive a position teaching English at a new university in Condega started by the government called UNICOMP (The University of the Rural Area). I taught beginning English on Saturdays for that year. The next year I was fortunate to receive a new job with the school district to teach English to four first grade and four second grade classrooms at two different schools in Condega. This new school year (2022) I am teaching English at only one primary school here in Condega. I work from 7am to 12 pm Monday through Fridays. I love working with children and try to make learning English fun. We do many flashcards and games together. I still live with my family so I have to travel an hour by bus every morning and an hour back each afternoon. My goal is to have my own house in Condega.
I started to have health issues when I was about 4 or 5 years old. The sun really bothered me and my vision was poor which made learning at school difficult. In elementary school I used eye drops from the doctor which helped some, but I always had to read with books up close. I was always put in the front of the class so that I could see the board, but it was a struggle. I would always wear sunglasses and my hair never grew on my head nor my eyebrows. I always wear a hat. When studying at the university I got glasses and that helped me to see better, but I still have to read things very close to my face.
I am so happy and love my job, sharing what I have learned with my students. Young children are so excited to learn new things. Thank you for your support. You are all very kind and generous.