Fridah
A year ago this week, I attended my first College Prep class—a moment that marked the beginning of my journey alongside inspiring people who, just like me, are striving for a high-quality education that will allow us to give back everything Monarch and Cabo have given us. And since july 2025 I officially became part of the ambassadors of Monarch Effect Foundation, my commitment to education and community has only grown stronger.
Now, as a first-semester architecture student at ITESO University in Guadalajara and as a foreigner, my adaptation process has been a rollercoaster filled with new responsibilities, challenges, and moments of deep learning. From mastering the basics of AutoCAD (Designing program for architecture plans) and group leading projects in my “Contexto Profesional de la Arquitectura” course, to building models , completing my first full architectural plan, and participating in my very first Repentina (a day where all architecture students have from 9am to 6pm to complete a full architecture model, with plans, arguments and presentation), each month has pushed me to become more disciplined, creative, and resilient.
Moving away from Los Cabos—my home, my family, and the place that shaped my love for nature—was one of the hardest steps I’ve taken, but it has also been the most rewarding. Exploring Guadalajara’s historic center, embracing the culture, and forming meaningful friendships have helped me grow not only as a student, but as a person. Through every sleepless night, every sketch, every cut of cardboard, and every moment of uncertainty, my commitment to giving back has stayed the same. The support of Monarch has been a constant reminder of the community that believes in me, enjoying each Sunday when we reunite in the MCI program and it motivating me to work hard so I can one day return everything Los Cabos and the Foundation have given me.
This chapter of my life has burst my bubble and pushed me to grow. Now, I am more determined than ever to become the kind of architect and person who creates spaces that inspire, protect, and give back.
Flight plan
September 2025
September went by in the blink of an eye — suddenly, it’s spooky season again. I guess time really flies when you’re doing things you enjoy. This month kept me busy every single day. I learned the basics of AutoCAD, which is a computer-aided design (CAD) software developed by Autodesk for creating precise 2D and 3D designs, models, and technical drawings, and I’m actually really enjoying it… well, except on those nights when I have to stay up until 1 a.m. finishing my architectural plans. But besides that, it’s amazing to work with such technology.
As the leader of my team for a class called Contexto Profesional de la Arquitectura (Context of Professional Architecture), where we learn how architects work nowadays, I got to interview a professional architect from Guadalajara. I asked him several questions and later edited the interview to upload it to YouTube. I’m also really enjoying all the hands-on work — I’ve already finished two architectural plans on paper from scratch, built three models, painted one textured piece, made four drawings, and even a collage.
On September 21, my teachers took our group of 21 students on a tour through Guadalajara’s historic center. As a foreigner, I really enjoyed it. The tour focused on analyzing the architecture of the buildings as we walked through the streets. Every now and then, our teacher would give us five minutes to do a quick sketch of what we saw around us, which I found super fun and something I’d never experienced before. Walking through the city, I also got to try traditional food from Guadalajara — my favorite was tejuino, a drink made from fermented corn, piloncillo, and topped with lemon sorbet, salt, and chili powder. Even writing about it makes me crave it again. Overall, it was a great way to connect more deeply with Guadalajara’s culture, learn to see the world through an architectural lens, and spend time with my new friends.
I feel deeply grateful to all the people that are supporting my journey and making these experiences possible — moments that have inspired me, and reminded me why I chose to become an architect.
Summer 2025
This summer was full of changes. In July, while I was enjoying my last days in Los Cabos spending time with friends and soaking up the sun, the beach, and the ocean every day, I was also getting everything ready for my big move—something I had never done before! I felt nervous and scared, but at the same time, I was super excited to begin this new stage of my life. Almost the entire month of July I dedicated to preparing for an English exam I had to take for university. Thanks to my previous studies in high school it wasn’t too difficult, and I managed to achieve a perfect score of 8/8 on the university’s grading scale. I also spent time reading two books this summer: Atomic Habits and The Call to Courage: The Four Stoic Virtues.
August arrived, and each day felt like a countdown… I only had 10 days left in Los Cabos! Between packing my whole life into two suitcases and completing all the paperwork, that time flew by. When I got to Guadalajara, I submitted my documents and had a real moment of realization: surrounded by so many new people, without my parents and without any familiar faces, it felt like I was starting to write in a blank book. Before classes began, I went out with my family to explore the city. We visited the zoo, where I got to go “behind the scenes” and see some sick animals up close. Then we went to an aquarium where I got into a cage to observe sharks face-to-face. We also visited downtown Guadalajara, where I was especially impressed by the Cathedral and the Degollado Theater, as well as the architecture that so beautifully reflects the city’s culture.
My first day of classes came, and I met so many new classmates and professors. It’s only been a week, but the time has flown by between buying materials and working on line drawings and designs. I’ve been fascinated by everything so far: I love that there’s more practice than theory. On Thursday, August 14, we were assigned to measure buildings on campus and then build a scale model to test on an earthquake simulation table to see how the structures would break apart. On Friday, August 15, I became the captain of a team for one of my classes, where I’m responsible for making sure my group works in the best possible way. It’s been an intense week, but also an incredible and exciting one.
June 2025
A part of me suddenly stays behind as a new one appears right before me. June has been a crazy month with all types of emotions; since I graduated from high school, I am excited to start a new chapter of my life. I am heading towards Guadalajara, Mexico, to ITESO University. I am beyond happy to take advantage of this opportunity that has been given to me. Since an early age, my family and I have always been involved in environmental care and protection, and going to ITESO means carrying this passion for environmental protection into university life, because the university´s values align with mine. I have always been curious how entering a space, its textures, colors, and decorations, can make you feel so many different ways. That’s why I decided to study architecture and later specialize in interior design. Even though there’s fear in leaving my home, my family, and everything familiar behind, I feel confident on facing the upcoming challenges.
In flight - my blog
October 2025
When studying architecture, we don’t take exams like in other majors; instead, we work through submissions and projects. This October was filled with architectural model deadlines — one every week — along with AutoCAD plans and hand-drawn blueprints.
Here I’m going to show some of my models:
For this project, I was inspired by two desert plants: the bougainvillea and the biznaga, both native to Baja California Sur. I chose the theme of Contemporary Mexico, but I wanted to give it a more artistic focus and balance it with architecture, based on the idea that painting works as the “facade” of a staircase.
This model represents a space for contemplation — a place where someone can meditate and feel at peace. I was inspired by a manta ray, which for me symbolizes Family, Union, Nature, and Magnitude.
It has an organic structure made up of triangles to create a wavy shape, a large open space, and a slightly dark atmosphere to better represent the deeper concept. I also used plenty of water elements to enhance the sense of relaxation.
My First Repentina
On October 18th, I took part in my first Repentina. The Repentina is a day held once per semester when all architecture students must participate. It consists of forming teams of three, and professors assign each team an architectural project to develop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., you must deliver the final work, which includes a presentation board and an architectural model.
At first, I was really nervous about this day because everyone said it was very stressful — everyone rushing against time to finish, and with the added pressure that could lead to disagreements or even arguments between teammates. But when the day came, I already had my team, and I felt confident we could do it.
At the beginning, it was a bit hard to agree on what to do, because sometimes you have a very clear idea in your mind but don’t know how to express it to others — and that caused me a lot of frustration. However, once we started talking and working together, we managed to combine our ideas toward a common goal. While one of us worked on the presentation board, another worked on the model, and the other went out to buy materials — the hours just flew by.
When I realized it, it was already 4 p.m., and none of us had eaten because we were so focused on finishing. With less than an hour left, the pressure in the room was intense — four teams working in the same space, everyone running around, shouting, and stressing out. Still, we were one of the few teams that finished everything exactly by 5:00 p.m.
I truly enjoyed that day because it tested my manual skills, teamwork, leadership, time management, and stress control. In the end, all three of us were very satisfied with our final result.
January 2026
January was a long month… but in the best way possible. I spent almost half of it in Los Cabos, at home, surrounded by my friends and family. And of course, I can’t forget Bella and Mollete, my two dogs, who made every day there feel even more special.
I wanted to make the most out of my vacation, so I got involved in everything I could. There were days when I woke up at 4 in the morning to help collect turtle eggs and assist in relocating them to a safe, protected area, always guided by marine biologists. I also volunteered in the recycling project at my former school: parents would bring their waste, and my job was to sort and organize it. These activities were very different from each other, but both reminded me how rewarding it is to do something for others and for the environment.
On January 18th, I flew back to Guadalajara, and this time everything felt different. I wasn’t returning to an unfamiliar place anymore, but to a city that has slowly become my second home. I came back to my apartment, my friends, and a routine that now feels like my own. Of course, the semester started strong: from day one we already had a model to deliver by the end of the week. It’s clear that professors no longer see us as freshmen—they get straight to the point now… and honestly, I like it that way. This month I also became more involved with the foundation, since I was assigned to manage the Instagram content for Monarch Mug. I’m really excited about it because I already had experience creating content during my last summer project, and even though it’s not directly related to architecture, I think it’s enriching to explore different fields. After all, you never know when something you learn along the way might come in handy.
But it wasn’t all about work and school. I also made time for myself: one Sunday I went to the Guadalajara Zoo, and it was amazing. Seeing the animals, enjoying the attractions, and simply disconnecting for a while reminded me how important it is not to forget to do the things that make us happy.
Because in the end, between responsibilities, projects, and goals… what would become of us if we stopped making time for what truly makes us feel alive?
December 2025
December didn’t just mark the end of a year; it was a moment to look back and acknowledge everything I’d been through. At the beginning of the month, the pressure was palpable—not just at school, but also in the apartments where I lived. I had never experienced being in a place where so many people were focused on the same goal outside of the classroom: surviving finals. Even though a single table could hold students from nine different majors, we were all concentrated on our own struggles while keeping each other company through the late nights. It was there that I realized how much of an influence friendship can have, for better or worse. There were friends who, instead of studying during finals week, kept going out or staying up late for no reason; but on the other hand, there were those friends who—even if they weren’t in my major—motivated me to keep going just by their presence and determination, even when I felt exhausted. A simple laugh from a joke was enough to recharge my energy and keep me working.
When the week ended, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction, as my dedication was reflected in my grades. However, grades aren't everything; I’m leaving this semester knowing I didn't just learn academic skills, but also real-life lessons—many more than I imagined. After surviving that week, the so-called "adult problems" began. I had only four days left before returning to Los Cabos, which meant moving out of the apartment for a month. This involved completely emptying the fridge so nothing would spoil, cleaning and scrubbing every corner, doing all my laundry, tracking down large boxes on the other side of town, handling the move all by myself, and, on top of all that, buying my plane ticket.
When I arrived in Los Cabos, I had mixed feelings. When I left, it felt as though I had put my life here on pause. Somehow, I imagined everything would stay exactly the same, waiting for my return. However, for obvious reasons, that wasn't the case. Los Cabos kept moving without me. My family continued their daily routines even in my absence; my old high school moved on with new generations, and life didn't stop. After a few days, I returned to what felt like my "real life" and started my winter project, aiming to work on my personal and professional growth. I decided to start a 30-day challenge that includes exercising, reading, and taking masterclasses. However, this challenge isn't just about finishing the 30 days, but about building the habit and maintaining it long-term. Additionally, starting January 7th, I’ll begin assisting at an architecture firm, which represents a major step toward getting closer to my professional field and the person I want to become.
In mid-December, my friends started arriving, and seeing them again after five months was exactly what I needed at that moment. When we reunited, it was like traveling back in time; in that space, it truly felt like nothing had changed. I thoroughly enjoyed those days with my family—getting back into family Sundays, going hiking, hitting the beach, and walking the dogs. It was exactly what I needed to reconnect and recharge.
November 2025
This was my fourth month living in Guadalajara, and it was the first time I truly felt how long I’d been away from my family. I started to miss home more than usual, especially because my university projects were becoming overwhelming. They weren’t necessarily difficult, but extremely time-consuming. If you don’t manage your time well, everything piles up quickly and it becomes hard to keep up.
Even with all that, this month I accomplished something I’m really proud of: I completed my very first full architectural plan. The idea that this set of drawings could actually be used to build a real house fills me with so much pride. It took two months of steady work — each project includes at least seven different views, and I also had to submit two additional plans with seven drawings each. As the deadline got closer, the pressure grew, especially because architectural plans need to be printed with very specific formatting. But even during the most stressful moments, my Monarch’s were with me, supporting me every step of the way.
After turning everything in, my parents surprised me with a trip to Los Cabos, which made me incredibly happy. When I got home, everything looked the same… but I felt different. It was strange — I still felt like part of my family, but no longer part of their daily routine. That’s when I realized how much I’ve grown in just a few months. I hadn’t noticed it before going back home: that I no longer needed my parents to drive me around, cook for me, wash my clothes, or take care of the little details of daily life.
This month wasn’t only an academic achievement — it was a meaningful step in my personal growth. Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting the dream I’m building, quite literally, one plan at a time.
