Becas becas becas

The school year is coming to an end, which means it's time to start prodding kids to apply for scholarships (becas) for next year...I just came back from San Salvador to turn in some applications for scholarships funded by a Peace Corps committee. But my leading candidate for a university scholarship just plain didn't do her application. I was a bit surprised, but I have witnessed an attitude towards education here that is cavalier at best. At home, it seems like so many people go to college without really caring about it because it's what's expected of them. So it shouldn't be so surprising that some kids here don't care to go to college -- except they're being offered a chance at a scholarship, and in my village the kids are so poor and a university education would do wonders for their future. They understand this, or at least they've been told it enough and can parrot it ("Quiero estudiar para salir adelante"/"I want to study to get ahead") but when it comes time to fill out the forms that would give them that shot? Nah.

At least two girls in the 9th grade filled out forms for high school scholarships. Keep your fingers crossed for them!

Paz y amor.