Daniela

Attending Anahuac University, Campus Queretaro, Mexico January 2024 for a 4 year degree in Communications. I have received a scholarship for 35% of my tuition and the Monarch Effect Foundation helps to cover the remaining amount through donations.

It means the world to me not only being supported by the Monarch Effect Foundation, but also to help it blossom by being an example and role model to new generations and show them how opportunities like this can be life changing for an individual, a family and society.

STORY

Blog

May 2025

Hey MEF fam,

I can’t believe I’m saying this… but another semester is officially done. That means I’ve now completed a year and a half of university—crazy, right? Time flies when you’re learning, growing, and maybe crying just a little during finals.

Speaking of finals... they were definitely a challenge (no sugar-coating that), but honestly, I kind of loved the chaos. There’s something about pushing yourself and then finally closing the laptop that just hits different.

One of the highlights this semester was my TV production class. For our final exam, we put together a full-on live newscast—yes, live. I got to be the producer and run audio, which meant I was right in the middle of the action, making sure everything ran smoothly (or as smoothly as it can in live TV). Total adrenaline rush. Total team effort. And I was so proud of what we pulled off.

Now, after all that hustle, it feels amazing to be back home, recharging with my family and, of course, my Monarch Effect family. Being surrounded by love, support, and people who believe in you? That’s the good stuff.

And the best part? There are so many exciting projects coming up. I’m feeling inspired, grateful, and so ready to keep building, dreaming, and making things happen with this amazing community.

Thanks for following along. See you next month with more updates and maybe a surprise or two.

April 2025

Hi Monarchs,

April was anything but calm, and it brought so many valuable lessons that I’d love to share with you.

The highlight of the month was being invited by one of the candidates for president of the student council at my university to join his team as the head of social media and public relations for the Communication program. From that moment on, it was a full-on adventure filled with logistics, creativity, long hours of work, and a lot of fun too.

We spent weeks planning, designing strategies, creating content, and coordinating with different people to make everything run smoothly. We had two incredibly intense campaign days, packed with activities, live content, and on-the-ground engagement.

In the end, we didn’t win, but honestly, I took away so much more. I learned, I grew, and I met so many new people along the way. This experience reinforced how much I love communication, working under pressure, and being flexible and resourceful when challenges come up.

Thank you MEF for continuing to walk alongside me. April was a challenge—but also a personal win.

March 2025

March was a month of significant progress and learning in different areas of my life. From excelling in my exams to leading creative projects, every experience taught me something valuable. My biggest achievement this month was my performance in the mid-semester exams. It was a stressful and demanding period, but all the effort paid off when I saw my results. This experience reinforced the importance of discipline, organization, and balancing study with rest. Another major accomplishment was helping grow the social media presence of a local business, a project I’m working on with my best friend. We volunteered to improve its content and digital strategy, creating high-quality content to boost engagement. This experience has not only allowed me to apply my knowledge in communication and marketing but has also been an incredible opportunity to learn and strengthen our friendship.On the sports side, I started playing in the women’s league of the futbol internal tournament, and so far, our team is winning. Playing as a team has been an enriching experience, helping me improve my skills on the court while enjoying the competition and camaraderie. March was a challenging but rewarding month. It reminded me that with effort and passion, great results always come. Now, with April ahead, I’m ready to keep growing and making the most of every opportunity inside and outside of MEF. Let’s go for more!

January 2025

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to share a little recap of my January with you all.

Winter break was incredible—I got to go back home, spend time with my friends, and reconnect with the other Monarch Effect ambassadors and members. It felt so special to catch up, share experiences, and see how much everyone has grown. One of the most exciting moments was meeting the students from College Prep and getting the chance to give them a workshop. It was inspiring to connect with them, hear their thoughts, and talk about something that can truly impact their future. Moments like these remind me why I love being part of this foundation and how powerful it is to give back.

Now, I’m back in school and starting my third semester of communications! This time, I finally get to take a TV production class and a marketing class, two subjects I’ve been looking forward to since I started my degree. Each semester, I feel more confident that I’m on the right path, and I love seeing how everything I’m learning connects to the real world. Plus, being back with my friends and diving into new projects has made it even more exciting.

January has been a month full of learning, growth, and new beginnings. I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Stay tuned for more updates—there’s so much more to come!

December 2024

November has been a month of hard work, challenges, and incredible milestones. Most importantly, it marks a huge achievement—I’ve successfully completed my first year of college! I’m finishing this chapter feeling proud, happy, and surrounded by amazing people who’ve made the journey unforgettable.

One of my biggest accomplishments this month was developing a creative project that pushed me to new limits. I designed a tennis movement to help teenagers overcome social media addiction, showing how the sport can build social skills, perseverance, and mental strength.

After countless hours of work, presenting the project to the jury was nerve-wracking but rewarding. Their feedback? They called it the best of the group! It was a moment that validated all the effort and reminded me why I love creating for the greater good.

Not everything was smooth sailing. My radio project became a true test of resilience when we lost all our editing just two days before the deadline. It was a stressful moment, but my team and I came together, rebuilt the project, and delivered something we were truly proud of. The result? A perfect score—a 10!

As the semester ends, so does my first year of college. It’s been a year of growth, creativity, and perseverance. I’m grateful for the lessons, the people, and the triumphs that have shaped this journey.

Here’s to finishing strong and stepping boldly into what’s next.

November 2024

This month, I had the chance to take part in a very special school volunteer program called ASUA for the Kids. It was a weekend experience where I joined a group of dedicated students to offer a full day of activities, games, and, most importantly, companionship to underprivileged children facing difficult circumstances who come from group homes.

We started bright and early, ready to welcome the kids with all our energy. The day was a whirlwind of emotions: we watched them go from being shy at first to sharing contagious laughter and connecting genuinely. We focused on making each activity memorable, from outdoor games to arts and crafts and group activities. The main idea was to give them a safe space full of fun, so that for at least one day, they could leave their worries behind and feel the support and warmth of all the volunteers.

Being a part of ASUA for the Kids made me reflect a lot. Seeing their smiles made me realize how important it is to dedicate time to those who need it most. Even though the day was intense and exhausting, I walked away with a full heart and the motivation to keep contributing to the well-being of others in any way I can. Experiences like this remind us that sometimes, the most valuable thing we can give is simply our time and presence.

I hope this blog inspires you to get involved in some kind of volunteer work. You don’t have to go far to make a difference; we all have the ability to positively impact someone’s life.

October 2024

This past month has been incredible, full of emotions and activities. To start, I took on a new job as the dog walker for Emma, my sister's friend's dog, and it's been such a lovely experience. Emma is adorable, and honestly, the time I spend with her really helps me clear my mind! I’m also managing the social media for his grilled chicken business, which has been a totally different challenge, but fun. There's nothing like creating content for a local business!

Then came the celebrations. It was my birthday, my sister's birthday, and my best friend's birthday, so there was no shortage of parties and family time. The best part was when my best friend from Cabo surprised me by coming to visit. I had no idea she was coming, so when I saw her, it felt like having a piece of home with me. We spent a few amazing days together, catching up and enjoying every moment.

In the midst of all that, I also started a new project with my friends: we’re developing a radio show from scratch for one of my classes. It's called Enamorándonos, and it’s all about love and relationships, but from our own unique perspective, featuring special guests. It's been quite a challenge, but also a super enriching creative experience. We’re learning a lot, not just about producing a show, but also about working together and organizing our ideas.

And as if that wasn’t enough, I also attended an amazing conference with journalist and communicator Oscar Samayoa. Listening to his story and how he built his career was incredibly inspiring. It got me thinking a lot about how I want to grow professionally and all the things I want to achieve in the future.

So, to sum up, it’s been a month full of work, new projects, celebrations, and a lot of personal growth. I’m excited about what’s next, but also really grateful for everything that’s happened so far!

1 August 2024

I recently finished my first semester of university, studying communications at Anahuac Querétaro. It feels surreal to think that it’s already been six months since I moved away from home to pursue my dreams. I couldn’t be happier with my experience so far. I’ve had the chance to meet amazing people from all over Mexico and even from around the world in these past months, and I’d say I’ve created a second home with the people I’ve met there. My program has surpassed my expectations, and I’ve grown so much as a student and as a person. I’m really looking forward to the semester that’s about to begin.