One of Jóvenes Adelante’s ‘Bright Lights’

By Keith Wall*

Juan Martin Trujillo Garcia is “a serious young man, and a self-proclaimed feminist,” according to Past President of Jóvenes Adelante Virginia Wheelwright, who recalls that when he first applied for a JA scholarship, “Juan Martin simply explained that he planned to pursue a degree in political science and public administration because he was determined to develop government programs in Mexico to help single mothers, like his own.”

When Juan Martin applied for a JA scholarship, his family was struggling to survive as his father had abandoned them. But his mother, Maricela Garcia, is a strong woman who has always worked hard as a maid to support both Juan Martin and his younger brother. Maricela wants to see both of her sons pursue the dream of a higher education so that they won’t have to struggle as she does. Juan Martin undoubtedly inherited his mother’s determination.

At the time, a memorial scholarship had been established in honor of Florence Ershun, a long-time and beloved resident of San Miguel, and the JA scholarship committee believed Juan Martin was the perfect recipient of an award in her name because she was a staunch feminist with a strong devotion to education and justice for the underprivileged.

Juan Martin received the scholarship and in the

process befriended Florence’s widower, Joe. Three years later, when JA initiated its mentor program, Joe was officially designated his mentor, along with co-mentor Janet Allen. “One of the best things about receiving a scholarship from Jóvenes Adelante has been the opportunity to get to know people like Joe and Janet,” says Juan Martin.

“Juan Martin feels strongly that when a family is abandoned by the father that the government should step in and help the mother get on her feet with training, food, money, and help with housing. He has heard from expats about government programs in the U.S. that assist single mothers, and he believes it’s possible to do that here in Mexico,” explains Janet. “He has very strong feelings of love and protection for his mom and brother. He stands out as a young man who is devoted to family and he plans to live his life differently. He is going to try to make a difference.”

Juan Martin excelled in his studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, but soon discovered he needed to do more if he really wanted to pursue his goal of developing government programs to help women. So in his fourth year, he added law to his curriculum “He stands out as a superstar even among all our superstars,” says JA President Pat Harding. “In six years, he’s going to complete 10 years worth of university training!”

Even with two degree programs going simultaneously, Juan Martin wanted to do more. So he got a job working for the National Water Commission in the State of Querétaro (CONAGUA), where he is responsible for the coordination and administration of new federally-mandated programs for organizational restructuring, working to create new position levels, standards, training programs and examinations.

When he’s in Querétaro where he shares an apartment with four other students, he’s rarely home. He works at the Commission from 8 am to 3pm, and then attends classes from 4 to 10pm, every day of the week. Where does he find time to study and eat? He studies, of course, when he gets home at 10:30, and he carries his lunch, sometimes stopping somewhere along his walk from school to work, to eat.

All the while maintaining better than a 9.0 grade point average (out of 10).

But this driven young man always returns home on weekends to be with his family. He plays football with his brother and listens to music, and of course, he studies. “Having a son like Juan Martin is better than having 100 children,” says Maricela, adding, “and now his younger brother wants to follow in his footsteps. He sees what Juan Martin is accomplishing and he wants to study hard and go to university, just like his big brother.”

And in his “spare time,” he has developed a special interest in Mexican history and artifacts and loves to explore old buildings, churches and temples. Juan Martin recently worked as a research assistant and assisted in the preparation of “Pictures of the Last Days of Maximilian of Habsburg in the Famed and Illustrious City of Querétaro,” by Dr. Ramon de Llano Ibáñez, a professor of sociology and history at UAQ, for which Juan Martin was credited. He also continues to do research on his own into some of the local religious fiestas in San Miguel.

Juan Martin received his degree in public administration and political science in June 2009, and is on track to finish his law degree in 2011. “Receiving this help from Jóvenes Adelante has been great. It has allowed me to support myself while I go to school,” says Juan Martin, explaining that without it, his family could not have afforded to send him to university. He also says that receiving a JA scholarship motivated him to do his best, academically, because he didn’t want to let the members of JA down.

Juan Martin has worked hard, and his mother has continued to help. As his proud mother Maricela says, “Thanks to the help he has received from Jóvenes Adelante, he is able to move forward in his life. He is a good person, very smart, and very determined. And he is very happy with the career path he has chosen. He’ll make it, thanks to Jóvenes Adelante.”

What will Juan Martin do when he finishes law school? He plans to rest, which by his definition means just holding down a full-time job for a while. But after a short break, maybe a semester, he plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences.

Jóvenes Adelante, A.C. is a registered Mexican and U.S. non-profit association dedicated to providing university scholarships to academically talented but economically disadvantaged students, like Juan Martin, and selects students from San Miguel de Allende and the City of Guanajuato and the surrounding areas for scholarships to help them continue their education and obtain professional degrees. For more information, to volunteer, contribute, or sponsor a student, visit How to Help or write to Info@JovenesAdelante.org.

* Keith Wall is a free-lance journalist living in San Miguel de Allende, and a member and former Board Member of Jóvenes Adelante.

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