Mexico City, August 30, 2023.- The new school year has begun and, with it, the new challenges for the UP community. After concluding her first year as the director of the Women's High SchoolDr. María José García Castillejos addressed parents and teachers with an emotional speech on August 12 in the auditorium of the Mexico campus.
Full of energy and enthusiasm, the principal thanked the parents for their trust in Panamericana to collaborate in the education of their children, and shared the importance of what she called "educating in hope", which is, "our primary objective for this school year", she said. Here are the key messages.
Hope as a way of life
Dr. Garcia Castillejos explained that one of the greatest challenges facing young people is to face a world full of social problems, so it is necessary to sow an authentic hope that allows them to overcome daily crossroads, confusion and problems.
In this way, he pointed out that Pope Benedict XVI, in his 2007 encyclical, also speaks to us about hope and defines it as what allows us to "face our present which, although tiring, can be lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of this goal and if this goal is so great that it justifies the effort of the journey".
A team in the formation of virtuous habits
"Hope is a virtue and that means that it must be continually realized," the principal told the parents. For this reason, she indicated that they are seeking to establish an alliance founded by students, parents and the educational community to form prudent, just, temperate, charitable and wise young people.
"That's where the importance of the family community for Pan American High Schools stems from," he said.
Beyond academic rigor
"There is a lot of talk about education in new technologies, the language of programming, encouraging polyglots, and not forgetting high physical and mental performance," said Dr. Garcia Castillejos.
Therefore, he pointed out that at Panamericana there is a concern that goes beyond academic rigor, and there is a commitment to form the best version of each student, considering their spiritual, physical, affective, social and intellectual dimensions.
Let us begin this new school year full of new paths and challenges as we look to the future with the lens of hope.
