Sarasota County STRIVE Award Student Stories: Helen Mosquera
All her life, Helen Mosquera has felt pulled in many directions. Her mother is Honduran, her father is Cuban, and she was born in Sarasota. She has lived all her life here, growing just as the city itself has grown so much over these past 18 years.
Helen’s mom speaks little English and when Helen was younger, she didn’t yet understand the advantages of being bilingual. She was a translator for her mom at doctor visits, school meetings, and other appointments. There have been times, too, when she hasn’t felt Honduran or Cuban or American enough.
Now a senior at Booker High School, the STRIVE Award recipient learned at an early age that she would keep quiet about her struggles. She made friends at school and was a good student, but she was reserved.
Helen lives with her mom and two brothers - one older, one younger - and when the pandemic hit she moved to remote learning. Heightening the stress and fear of COVID-19 and her feelings of isolation at home, Helen’s mother and older brother were dealing with difficult personal challenges.
“The majority of my support system came from school, and I was completely isolated,” Helen said. What was happening at home took all her energy and school became more of a second thought. It was hard. Helen tried to focus but would realize, “I’m so drained.”
While Helen had lost face-to-face connections with friends and teachers during her sophomore year, her role as family caretaker increased. She wanted to be there for her little brother. She also had to provide support for her older brother and her mom, helping them navigate their own struggles.
Her junior year, when Helen returned to school, she struggled to situate herself back into the in-person learning environment while juggling the personal issues she had at home. She now looked down or away when talking to her teachers, hoping they wouldn’t sense how she was struggling with the pressures of being a student and a caretaker.
Her teachers noticed though, and one, Helen’s English teacher, Ms. Simon, reached out to Helen. As Helen said, “There comes a point when that mask is cracked.”
Toward the end of that year, her English class read works exploring the many aspects of identity. Students had to write a personal essay capturing who they were, and Helen chose to write about how it feels to be quiet.
In writing the essay, she confronted struggles she has faced and her tendency to stay quiet. How would she reconcile her many sides and challenges? What caused her to be so quiet? As Helen said, “It gave me a moment to learn and reflect.”
Ms. Simon and her English class, which explored many of the issues Helen was living with, helped. She began to share more with Ms. Simon and then with other teachers, “talking about things I needed help with.”
But doing just that has helped Helen immensely. Having support from her friends and teachers, even if that support is just them knowing what she’s experiencing, and knowing that she’s not alone, makes a difference.
Helen has also found the importance of giving herself time to breathe. She loves to read or listen to music, even for only 15 minutes. She can escape into a Beethoven symphony or a world created by Toni Morrison or even Stephen King. She can catch her breath and feel confident that everything will be okay.
Now a high school senior, Helen is Ms. Simon’s teaching assistant and turns to her former English teacher when she needs to talk. She is active in clubs such as Booker High School’s Law Academy and Key Club, and she serves as a College for Every Student Brilliant Pathways Ambassador, supporting students as she herself has been supported by so many caring individuals. She has applied to colleges and plans to pursue a career in mental health law.
As she nears the end of her senior year, Helen has found her voice and feels confident about the future. While understanding that her journey will be complicated as she navigates her many sides, she embraces who she is. Today, Helen sees strength in being bilingual.
Helen’s advice to incoming freshmen: “Show up and be there. Give it your best. You change your future by being there and learning and taking in your environment.”
For over 30 years, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County has supported students and teachers because education transforms lives. As a champion for life readiness, the Education Foundation provides personalized, comprehensive resources and relationships so that students can find their purpose and progress intentionally through their K – 12 schooling. Its mission is to enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.
About the STRIVE Awards
The STRIVE Awards were born out of H. Jack Hunkele’s vision to recognize students who have overcome tremendous challenges to succeed in life. Thanks to the H. Jack Hunkele Charitable Foundation and other generous donors, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, in partnership with Sarasota County Schools, highlights the resilience and grit of students across our county. During award ceremonies at their high schools, STRIVE Award recipients receive cash gifts for education after high school as well as recognition. They are invited to serve as student leaders promoting resilience and persistence, and they are connected to Education Foundation resources such as student success coaching, mentoring, workshops, and more.
Learn more about the STRIVE Awards and this year’s remarkable recipients: EdFoundationSRQ.org/STRIVE2023.