Hello. My name is Elder Ismalej Enriquez. I was born in the small village of Rabinal Baja Verapaz in Guatemala. Life there was very hard for me. My parents did not have the opportunities for work there for my education. Dangers were also lurking there. There were gangs that were always waiting in the streets ready to rob anyone of the little money that they had to pay for food at the local market. When I was 11-12, they asked me to join the gangs there. I refused. They were not happy with my answer, and I had to start hiding in my house in order to avoid being seen out on the streets. Their threat to hurt me was very real. My father was a strong Christian man, so he decided to bring me to America in order to save me from the life that he knew I would eventually be forced to follow if I remained there.

My father and I came to the United States 4 years ago. Life for me here was hard at first. I began to attend Courtland High School in Spostylvania, Virginia. NO ONE in the school spoke my language of Achi. I was in a new place, isolated and alone. I quickly learned Spanish so that I could communicate with some of the students there. I knew some Spanish from my home country. In order to succeed here, I decided to learn English as quickly as I could. Within one year, I was well on my way to learning English!

One of the things I brought with me from Guatemala, was my love for music. My father would always play the guitar at home and ask me to try to play with him. Music for me here, in the US, was my escape. I taught myself how to play the piano in about one year. I practiced every day, and I began playing some for my church.

My teacher sent a video of me playing my piano to the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. They wanted to see me right away. We visited, and I auditioned to study music there. They immediately accepted me into their program! I was granted an international scholarship to study and play music there. My dream has come true! I know that this is all given to me by the love of God. He and He alone gets the credit for my successes. The decision to come to America was a good one for me. I am now a graduating senior!

I plan on studying music and becoming a music teacher when I graduate so that I can help other students like me, new to this country, to love music and better their lives like I am doing. My American dream is to “Pay It Forward” with music and empathy for others in my situation. I want to contribute to my new home and help others like me to succeed.

I am asking for help with the tuition costs that I owe. The University of Lynchburg costs over $53,000 per year. My father cannot help me with my tuition. While his job here in America is much better than what he had in Guatemala, it is still nowhere near enough to help me with my educational expenses. My goal is to share my story with as many people as I can. If every person who reads this can help by just one dollar or two, I can make my goal! Thank you so much for your help, and God bless you!

Sincerely,

Elder