This Semana Santa I will be walking more than 200 kilometers on the Camino Primitivo from Grandas de Salime to Santiago de Compostela to help my students in northern Spain experience something many students in the United States take for granted. 

Their very first school dance. 

With your help, we want to organize the first end of year school dance these students have ever had!

For many of my students in the British and bilingual programs at IES Guardo, this would be the first time they ever experience a night like this. Dressing up, taking photos with friends, dancing together, and celebrating the end of the school year. 

The kind of moment students remember for the rest of their lives.

Last September I moved from Miami to a small mountain town in northern Spain called Guardo to work as an English Language Assistant in the British and bilingual programs at IES Guardo. 

My students work incredibly hard learning in a second language every day. Beyond practicing conversational English, they are also gaining exposure to American culture and traditions. It has been incredible to watch their confidence grow as they challenge themselves to communicate in a new language. 

However one thing that has never really existed for them here is a school dance such as prom, homecoming, or a formal celebration.

So this year we want to change that. 

Every kilometer walked on the Camino will help create a night these students will remember for the rest of their lives.

The Meaning Behind the Camino 

For centuries people from around the world have walked the Camino de Santiago as a journey of reflection, perseverance, and personal growth. Each step represents dedication, challenge, and the determination to reach a meaningful goal. 

The Camino has already played an important role in my own life. In the fall of 2024 I walked the entire Camino Francés from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. Along the way I briefly explored the beginning of the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo before returning to finish the Francés route. 

A year later life brought me to live and teach in Castilla y León. This Semana Santa I will return to the Camino to complete the remaining stretch of the Primitivo from Grandas de Salime to Santiago de Compostela. This time every step will be dedicated to my students. 

In many ways this journey mirrors what my students experience every day. Learning a new language requires persistence, courage, and patience. Just like the Camino, progress happens one step at a time.

Why This Matters 

For students in a small town like Guardo this dance would be more than just a party. It would be a celebration of their hard work, their friendships, and the dedication they show every day learning in a second language. 

Our goal is to raise $5,000 to organize the first end of year school dance for the high school students in the British and bilingual programs at IES Guardo. A night where they can celebrate everything they have accomplished this year.

Sponsor a Kilometer

Instead of asking for traditional one time donations, I am inviting people to sponsor each kilometer I walk. 

Anyone can participate and even the smallest pledge can make a difference. 

For example :

Sponsor a Kilometer

$0.01 per kilometer equals $2 total

$0.10 per kilometer equals $20 total 

$0.50 per kilometer equals $100 total

$1 per kilometer equals $200 total 

Every kilometer brings us one step closer to making this celebration possible for the students. Throughout the journey I will be sharing updates from the trail so supporters can follow along and see the progress toward our goal.

Walk This Journey With Me 

By sponsoring a kilometer you become part of this journey. Whether you sponsor one kilometer or the entire walk, every contribution helps bring this idea to life. 

Together we can give these students a night they will remember for the rest of their lives. 

Your support turns each step of this journey into an unforgettable moment for my students.

Thank you for walking this Camino with me