Alí Pavón Castiblanco

Graduated Summer of 2022

I joined El Alba in first grade. I was very lucky to have the teachers that I had, each one unique in their teaching style, but I recognize now that they all had one thing in common: their passion for learning. If there is one thing I took from my education at El Alba it is that learning happens when there is intention, creativity, and a strong connection between the students and the teachers.

My most memorable school experience was learning about waves with our physics teacher. I remember it being a moment of awe seeing our teacher demonstrate theoretical concepts with real objects in our class. This was then carried further with us doing experiments of our choosing and demonstrating them with the adequate equations; this really pushed my mind and made me feel like a true scientist. It was one of the moments that set me on the path I am pursuing today.

One of my most influential teachers was my English and reading teacher in 7th grade. He trained me like no other person had before in my reading comprehension and expanded my literary imagination, showing us hidden worlds behind what seemed like just words on a page, and then polishing our writing skills. If it weren’t for the confidence that I gained in my reading and writing skills I would have never chosen the career that I am currently pursuing—physics.

After my graduation I embarked on a period of service through a program organized by the Bahá’í Community. For a little less than a year, with a group of two others, we dedicated ourselves to the spiritual education of children and the empowerment of youth in different communities, learning each day about service to others and about ourselves. This period of service was extended as I was accepted to serve in Haifa, Israel at the Bahá’í World Center. These were some of the most valuable moments of my life, where I learned more about what sort of impact I want to have on the world, and how to get along with people of different cultures and diverse backgrounds.

I am currently studying physics at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) and serving part time with the Bahá’í training institute here in Honduras. In the not so far off future, my hope is to become a Physicist and specialize somewhere in the area of quantum physics, particle physics, or astrophysics.

I think it is important to share how each experience we have in life can be a coherent part of our journey as a person and as a contributor to the betterment of the world. I might not complete my studies within the next few years, and the path will be full of challenges, but the measure to which we are able to contribute to society isn’t dependent on a degree or a title, it is our character and our daily actions that will make the world a better place.