Ensena por Argentina in underprivileged schools

My name is Sofía, and ever since I was 18 years old, I pursued a career path deeply rooted in human resources. However, it was at the age of 25 that I experienced a profound realization. Despite my personal and professional achievements, I became acutely aware of the disparities in educational opportunities for young people. It became evident to me that one's ability to thrive, both personally and professionally, is intrinsically tied to the quality of education they receive.

Motivated by this realization, I made a conscious decision to dedicate myself to understanding and improving the educational system in my country. This led me to apply for the Enseñá por Argentina Collective Leadership Program. After a rigorous and long selection process, I was chosen among 1,500 applicants to become a secondary school teacher in underprivileged communities in Argentina. Of course I was nervous and had a lot of expectations, but the closer I got to Enseñá por Argentina, the more I convinced myself that this was the right path. 

I was surprised to have found a space where I felt accompanied by peers who shared my values and main goal: to transform the educational system into one that has students in the center, developing socio-emotional and academic skills. I am convinced that socio-emotional skills are indispensable for students to have a truly valuable trajectory at all levels of education, because they help them be more organised, aware of their capabilities and bond with their peers. Through the Collective Leadership Program, I learned how to approach the classroom by placing the student at the center and not being adult-centric, and to plan classes based on skills rather than from a specific curriculum.

This journey has been transforming, it has changed the way I view reality and shaped me into a better person and, as a result, a better professional. The best thing that Enseñá por Argentina left me with was a way of life, where no matter where you are or what profession you have, we can all contribute to ensuring that our Argentina, in every corner of its being, has a quality, inclusive education with equal opportunities.