February 2026 Archive
what's up this month
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Update February 2026
My greatest challenge so far:
By Nicolas:
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge I have faced has been in this academic year, as I was the Secretary-General for the fifth edition of the HultMUN conference. This meant that I had to lead different departments with my team, staff members, logistics, and marketing for the event. We faced many challenges throughout the planning of this event, and I had to stay at uni for an average of 11 hours every day for 3 months to bring this forward. This project consumed many aspects of my life, but I trusted in the efforts of my team and I to bring this forward.
The biggest challenge came when we found ourselves cornered, with low participation and unfavorable timings, we had no choice but to postpone the conference and conduct it two months later. Some of my mentors directly recommended against it, but my team was strongly for this decision, and I decided to trust my team. I am very glad this was done, because it was this way that we had the chance to collect ourselves, and bring the project back stronger than ever. The postponement originally took a big toll on me and the team, but it allowed us to see everything under a new light, one that let us see that there is no Plan B, no alibi, and no excuses to do anything less than deliver the best event we could possibly deliver.
Growth isnât always easy, that is something I have realized through this challenge. I have also seen, in practice, the stoic idea that failure does not define you; but neither does success. Your character is defined on how you face adversity, and the resilience you show in the face of challenges that life throws at you. This experience has provided me with incredible amounts of growth, and despite the difficult parts, I wouldnât have it any other way.
the school club transforming my experience
By Marco:
For a long time, my university life followed a predictable script: attend lectures, finish assignments, and study for exams. But this semester, the script changed.
Just a week ago, I participated in the Student Communities Presentation. Standing thereânot to present a homework assignment for a grade, but to share a vision of my ownâwas a turning point. As I presented the AI Safety Student Club, I was able to explain that this initiative is born from a real urgency: to train not just engineers capable of building powerful systems, but responsible leaders prepared to guide their ethical impact.
We are not a conventional study group. We aim to be technological "strategists" bridging engineering with philosophy, creating a space where we question why we build what we build. It is our response to the need to ensure artificial intelligence aligns with human values.
Planning this has meant sacrificing my free time, yet strangely, itâs what gives me the most energy. I am about to launch the official call for members (convocatoria), and I feel a mix of nerves and certainty. Founding this club has taught me that the true university experience begins when you decide to take ownership of your education and dare to lead a conversation that no one else was having.
importance of mentorship
By Mariano:
Graduating from the Foundation was a milestone, but the transition into my professional career has taught me that the learning never truly stops; it simply changes form. As I navigate this new chapter, I have realized that the most significant driver of growth isn't just the work we do, but the people we choose to learn from.
Recently, Iâve had the privilege of taking on two new mentors who guide me in two very different aspects of my life. This experience has been transformative. It has reminded me that mentorship isn't just a casual conversation; itâs an investment in your own development.
One mentor might help you refine your professional strategy and CV, while another helps you navigate the spiritual and emotional weight of leadership, like in my case the past weeks.
It is easy to make a connection, but it takes integrity to maintain it. Following up, staying engaged, and showing that you value a mentorâs time are what turn a brief encounter into a lasting foundation.
Most importantly, Iâve learned the necessity of remaining thankful. In the rush of trying to "catch up" to our goals, we can sometimes forget that someone else is lending us their light. Approaching every interaction with genuine gratitude ensures that the relationship remains a two-way street of respect.
To those coming up through the program now: don't just look for answers, look for the people who will challenge you to find them yourself.
where's monarch's mug
Follow the mug!
There is so much to tell - so many small, magical adventures hidden inside my ordinary days. I may eat the same breakfast every morning, but everything that follows feels like choosing a new candy from a sweet shop: singular, unexpected, bursting with its own flavor, color, and spark of spice.
Today, I tasted a miraculous tagine, a gift from my Tunisian friendâs mother.
Tomorrow, I will run through the European woods of my dreams.
My biggest lesson so far
By Andrey:
During the year Iâve spent in university, Iâve learned so many things, both personally and academically. More than anything, university has taught me that thereâs nothing wrong with making mistakes, because in the end, things will be okay.
Of course, after making mistakes, there are consequences. But thanks to those mistakes and facing their consequences, Iâve learned a lot. From simple situations like âI managed my time poorly and didnât have time to go to the grocery store today, so Iâll have to do it tomorrowâ, to bigger ones like âthe information we presented wasnât complete, and we received a poor gradeâ.
Each of these experiences has helped me change and mature, becoming more responsible and more aware that every habit I have directly shapes how my day will turn out.
What I wish donors knew:
By Melissa:
From the outside, being an Monarch student might look like an opportunity among many. From the inside, it feels like a once-in-an-infinity moment. Like the Big Bang, the simple fact of being here, of becoming who I am through this experience, feels almost impossible in its rarity.
This opportunity didnât just open a door; it reshaped the entire path in front of me. If it werenât for you, I wouldnât be here. Period. That truth is simple and enormous at the same time.
A âthank youâ will never fully reach the dimensions of what I feel, but I hope this gives you a glimpse of it. Your belief changes lives in ways that arenât always visible, but are deeply, permanently felt. Thank you.
By Tessa:
Student life has taught me that cooking isn't just about hunger, it's about being able to develop a weekly system that saves time, money and meets my health goals. (Because yes, balance is also a thing in my fridge).
Cooking has allowed me to take learning out of a classroom, the weekly new recipes open doors for experimenting, and encourage creativity. Sometimes I have to work extra hard when I open the fridge and the only things I have to work with are a culinary puzzle: half a pepper from another recipe, a little bit of rice from Monday, and that spinach that simply refuses to give up. And that is where the creativity begins to spark.
The best part of this is that the best recipes have been created during these times, whether it was the extra sweet banana from my pantry, or the nutritious ingredient that I promised myself I would start eating. Some of my favorite recipes have been the ones that contain every single ingredient I could find in my fridge, I never knew salads could have so many flavors! It was so good it could have been put in a restaurant! Or at least good enough to eat for the next couple of weeks.
So my plate isn't just full of different recipes, it's also full of the responsibilities of becoming an adult, the creativity of coming up with new flavors, and the adaptation to budgets. Because surviving student life isn't only about studying, it is also about mixing new ingredients and hoping for the best, all while turning into a functioning adult.
Whats on my plate
THINGS IM LOVING THIS MONTH
By Kendra:
One of my favorite quotes ever, and that has been helping me stay motivated this month, is, âLife is what happens to you while youâre busy making other plans.â â John Lennon, from Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy).
As a college student, I spend a lot of time thinking and even worrying about the future. My grades, my career, and the goals Iâm working toward. But this quote reminds me that while Iâm planning and striving, my life is unfolding in the present moment. It encourages me to appreciate small, everyday experiences instead of constantly rushing toward whatâs next. That mindset shift has made a big difference for me this month, helping me be more present and grateful. Moreover, one habit that has been especially important for me this month is spending at least 30 minutes each day talking to or being with someone I love. During midterms, itâs so easy to get completely caught up in studying and isolate myself. But even just 30 intentional minutes can completely shift my mood and motivation. It might be calling my mom before bed, walking to class with a friend, or grabbing a quick bite together. Those small moments of connection remind me that Iâm more than my grades and deadlines. They recharge me mentally and emotionally, and they make everything else feel more manageable. In a busy season, that simple habit has made a big difference.
faithful
Eric's word of the MONTH:
faithful- in your journey. trusting the process
Thank you for joining our Monarch Concert on the Beach at Sr. Pez. Itâs like magic when we could bring together music, community, and a shared belief in whatâs possible for talented students from Los Cabos. Weâre truly grateful you were part of it.
A heartfelt thankâyou to Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer and the Casa de MĂşsica Orchestra of Los Cabos for filling the evening with inspiration and helping tell the stories of us students.
The Monarch Effect Foundation currently supports 17 students through our educational journey and 60 students in the mentoring programs. There are also 11 new applicants for Fall 2026 â young students who continue to show their dedication, resilience, and potential like those of us already studying. With your support, the door can be opened for for these students as well.
Here is the YouTube link to watch our video Talent Lives Here, which provides an overview of the foundation, how it work and why we students are looking to Monarch to help fulfill their dreams of education.
Your generosity helps ensure that talented students from Los Cabos have access to the education and mentorship needed to pursue university and return to strengthen the community we call home.
Every single dollar helps move this mission forward.
Talent lives here. Help ensure that opportunity does too.
â¨đŚ With gratitude,
Monarch Effect Foundation students.
AARON MEYER CONCERT
Our partners in College prep mentoring and EMA
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Collegio Mission for opening its doors and welcoming CPM and EMA students with such generosity and commitment.
Hosting students is much more than providing spaceâit is about creating an environment where learning, collaboration, and growth can truly flourish. Through Missionâs support, students have had the opportunity to engage in meaningful academic experiences while also feeling part of a community that values their development.
Our partnership with Mission reflects a shared vision: empowering young people with the tools, guidance, and encouragement they need to succeed. By believing in the potential of CPM and EMA students, Mission is helping shape not only their academic journeys but also their confidence and sense of purpose.
Daniela EnrĂquez
Newsletter Editor
Thank You, Colegio Mission
Q: âWhat advice would you give to students who are doubting their major or feeling lost in college?â
EMA:
Sometimes college feels like one big question mark. You move to a new place, meet new people, and often are expected to know who you are and where you are going. In the middle of all that, it's normal for many to start wondering if they picked the wrong major⌠or even the wrong version of themselves. However, it is important to remember that college isnât a final decision. Hereâs the advice I wish someone had given me earlier: donât panic based on one bad week. Give things a real try. Take the next class, talk to an upperclassman, go to office hours, and sit with the discomfort before deciding itâs ânot for you.â Most of the time, confusion isnât a sign that you failed. Adjust slowly. You donât need a full reset, just a next step.
By: Kendra đŚâ¨
đŚ ASK EMA
Link to video
EMA is the voice and guide inside our Emerging Monarch Academy (EMA) workshops â part mentor, part motivator, part âask better questionsâ coach. EMA believes one simple truth:
âWho youâre becoming matters just as much as who you are.â
EMA isnât here to give all the answers. Sheâs here to spark curiosity, confidence, and conversations that help students grow. And now, sheâs joining our newsletter to share those ideas with you!
Meet EMA in the video below