Tessa

I am a 16-year-old who thrives knowing that I will always reach for more, and will transform my goals into realities, not merely dream of them. Similar to the Monarch butterfly who travels remarkably long distances each year to reach their destiny, I understand that the decisions that I make along the way as well as my efforts will largely determine my future.

This desire may only be quenched by immersing myself in the rich educational landscapes offered on the other side of the world - an aspiration regretfully out of reach for my family. Despite having several jobs, I know I cannot afford to continue my education without some assistance. I also know I will exceed all expectations should I earn this scholarship.

One of the other ways that I enjoy spending my time is powerlifting. At first, I just went to the gym with my brother, then he signed me up for a powerlifting competition for beginners, which is when I became intrigued by the sport. Before long I was competing in a national competition in Merida, México where I got first place in my category, granting me the pass to compete in the world championship which was held in Romania.

I am committed to serving a greater purpose for this scholarship, working even harder, not only to gain more knowledge, but also to do what I believe is the best path for me, to keep exploring the world, and finding what my passion is. I am eager to start this journey, and I hope that the Monarch Foundation will support me through it.

STORY

Blog

Summer 2025

Finally, summer has begun, and I’ve been planning out everything that I’m going to do during these months. I was finally going to have enough time to focus on all the goals that I have been trying to reach.

I was mostly excited about finally being able to sit down and read the book that I had been trying to read for a long time. Display Edge by Jeff Olsen had just caught my attention, and not so long after, I started another read for the summer, which was a book about trading. I have been trying to learn and understand a little more about this topic so I found summer to be the perfect opportunity to do so. I was also able to take some free courses online that will help me at university.

Most importantly, I finally took a moment to stop and reflect on these last three years, and everything that I was able to achieve and the meaningful lessons that I carry with me. Three years ago, I never would have imagined being a part of such a wonderful foundation, which not only allowed me to attend such a good university but also provided me with friends who have already gone through everything that I will soon be going through. And for that, I will never stop being grateful.

And then, before I knew I, the summer had come to an end, it was finally time for me to move out. Saying goodbye to my parents was a little heartbreaking, but it also symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter. One filled with growth, independence and evolution.

Before I knew it, I was on a plane on my way to the place which would soon become my own home. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and I am beyond grateful for everyone who was a part of this journey.

I was able to step on the plane and now set foot on my new university. I hope your summer was as full of new endeavors as mine was. See you in the next chapter.

June 2025

Are you familiar with the imposter syndrome? I hope you are, and I also hope you realize that it’s all in your head, because we can accomplish anything we want!

June…I was so antsy for this month to come. I had worked so hard in school, that I couldn’t wait. I was finally going to graduate. On June 10th I finally presented my last school project: my thesis titled “More than an Agenda: A Complete Tool for Building Habits, Organization, and Academic & Personal Success”. I scanned the room to see three people in the audience. My mom, my dad and the school Principal. I hadn’t invited many people to my presentation, in fact, I almost didn’t have my parents there. I was scared of letting them down if something went wrong. The Imposter syndrome. “Thank you Professor Leonardo for my presentation….” I said right before giving what I believe is one of the best presentations that I have ever given. This has been a project that I had been working on for months, and which I knew so deeply and loved so much. Five minutes into my presentation I realized how much I had truly learned about this topic and how enthusiastic it made me feel. I chose this topic because it is something that I struggled with once I entered 10th grade. I was constantly facing challenges due to my lack of organization, and it wasn’t until a teacher sat me down and taught me how to use the method of “brain dumping” that I truly began to have mental clarity. That is why I decided that it was so important for more students to understand the necessity of having a good organization tool. In this project, I was able to research about the science behind agendas, all while learning to design my own. It is something that I truly enjoyed, which is why I decided to continue this project outside of school. Another very important thing that happened during this month was my school graduation ceremony. I can’t begin to explain how ecstatic I felt. I was chosen to give the speech by my classmates, and I was determined to truly deliver something outstanding. As I sat on my bed, feeling inspired to write I started bawling. It was the moment where I truly realized how much I was going to miss this place. It had not only become the place where I met the most heartwarming people, but it had become my second home. I filled the speech with inside jokes, fond memories, and the people that I love the most. My heart scrunched up as I stood in front of the whole audience, lights, blinding my eyes, as I read the paper where I voiced the deepest part of my heart and my most cherished momenta. The only thing I could hear was the laughter coming from my classmates as I said the jokes that only they could make sense of. I am truly grateful that I got the opportunity to deliver such an important writing. And even more grateful that I got to share all these years with such amazing people. During the ceremony I was able to beat my impostor syndrome. That feeling that had been haunting me ever since I was younger, it had completely slipped away.I was called up to the stage a total of four times. Once, for staying loyal to the same school during my whole life, the second for my hard earned diploma and the other two for things that I found completely unexpected. Given to my struggles with imposter syndrome, it had never even crossed my mind that I could be the one to achieve them. Yet there I was, walking over to the stage after my name had been called for the fourth time. One of the awards was due to my thesis. I was awarded in the category that recognizes in the innovative tools and methods for academic or personal growth. My agenda was highlighted as a practical and effective solution for high school students focused on organization, time management, and habit building, supported by real authors and data.I became extremely proud of myself and grateful for all of the hard work that I had put forward for this project. I was honored with the final award of the ceremony, a highly competitive recognition given to the student who consistently demonstrated strong communication, critical thinking, international athletic achievement, active involvement in school and community, entrepreneurial skills, and the values of our school: respect, resilience, responsibility, and generosity. When I heard my name, I was shocked. I felt so honored that out of the 47 students that are in my class, I was the one that got chosen for this award. I stood up and started walking towards the stage, as tears dropped from my eyes, these weren’t sad tears, they were tears of realization that I had finally beat the imposter syndrome, something that I thought I could never do. This month was full of achievements, and I am extremely thankful for each person that guided me through this process. I am beyond excited to continue working hard for the things that I want to achieve, especially now that I realize how capable I truly am. See you in the next month full of new goals and accomplishments!

May 2025

Hello dear Reader!

I am excited to tell you that I finally graduated! I can't believe how fast time flies when you are busy. I had my last day here at Picacho, and it was beautiful. After 16 years of getting dropped off at the same school, it is finally over. I would be lying if I said I wasn't going to miss it.

Picacho McGregor gave us a last school tour, starting at kindergarten and ending at the High School football field. It was our last goodbye, our last time seeing all of our friends together at the same time. Our last time walking through the same halls we met. Our last time standing between the same four walls where we got to know each other so well. I truly can't grasp the concept of not seeing my friends every day, in the same class ever again. I am beyond excited to begin my new journey, but there is a small part of me that doesn't want to leave. A part that wishes she could stay in this exact place forever. Yet there is a bigger part of me who can't wait to get out of Cabo and start her new life. I am beyond grateful for all of the amazing opportunities that I have had these last three years. They have not only helped me learn so many new lessons, they have also shaped me to become the woman that I am today. I hope to become the best version of myself through the next four years of university, and I hope to surround myself with new faces who will help me reach my goals. Thank you for taking your time to read tessa´s Month of May. I hope you get to read my June's adventures.

April 2025

Everything seems to be coming to an end, soon I won’t be in the same classroom as my childhood best friend, I won’t be able to look around and see all the familiar faces that have been part of my life for so long. I will admit that it is scary, not knowing what is going to happen next. However, I am confident that with the help of the foundation I will be able to get over these challenges.

I am beyond grateful to be able to go study abroad for the next four years. I cannot even begin to express how excited I feel for what is to come. I remember being a little girl and imagining how amazing it would be to be able to go to their other side of the world and now I’m going to be able to do so! While also meeting new people and surrounding myself with new faces, learning so many new things about the world and immersing myself into new experiences. Although I am aware that it’ll be challenging I am also willing to learn. If there’s something that I have learned these past months is that life is a lot easier once you are determined to face challenges, as new ways of learning instead of giving up, and I hope to do this with the support of the Monarch Effect Foundation and of every person that is supporting it.

March 2025

Hello dear reader, as you may already know my name is Tessa Roberts, I spend most of my time at the gym, reading books, baking, working on my business and going out with friends. Yet, sometimes I feel like time is simply slipping through my fingers,- I hope you understood the Mamma Mia reference- to the point where I feel I don’t even have the time to look back and enjoy the little moments.

March has felt like such a hurried month, I finally had the chance to get back into routine after a heavy week of many exams and projects. Before I continue to talk about my month, I would like to ask you something. When was the last time you sat down and took the time to look back on all of your accomplishments? I believe that sometimes we can get so caught up at work, in our studies or simply in life, we focus so much that we tend to forget about the importance of stopping to enjoy. I am only a few months away from my graduation, which means that soon i'm going to leave this beautiful place, full of amazing people that have taught me so many valuable lessons. I'm going to be away from the many outstanding teachers which I had the honor of learning from. I'm not talking about the things they taught me in class-although that was really interesting as well- Im talking about the teachers who constantly encouraged me to be my best self, the ones who helped me through rough times. Those are the teachers which I value the most. The ones that not only show up to give a lesson, but the ones who genuinely care about their students. I will miss staying in during recess to tell profe Nacho that I had finished the book he had recommended to me, I will miss looking for Miss Denise in the hallways to tell her all about what was new in my life, I will miss seeing my mom during my breaks (she’s a teacher at my school). There are also teachers who I started missing already since they left before I graduated. I think about these small interactions more often than not. I remember reading a quote that said something along the lines of "Missing someone or something is a quiet reminder that it mattered — that it touched your heart in a way worth remembering. " So I am grateful that I get to miss such a beautiful place, and such heartwarming people. I think that this month has truly made me fall in love with living. I love that I am able to learn new things everyday, I love that I can meet new people everyday, I love that I can visit new places, I love that I can play music and dance, I love that I can laugh with my friends, I love that I can bake, I love to love. I am in love with life. And I hope you are too.

January 2025

Este mes ha sido todo sobre probar cosas nuevas y aprender de ellas. Una vez más, tuve la increíble oportunidad que me brindó la Monarch Effect Foundation, que me proporcionó una pasantía. Mi rol fue desarrollar un sistema—o el plan base—para trabajos de pasantía dentro de la fundación. Lo que me parece realmente asombroso de esto es que mi trabajo será utilizado en el futuro y perfeccionado por estudiantes y diferentes empresas. Al principio, me sentí un poco nerviosa porque era algo en lo que nunca había trabajado antes. Sin embargo, logré avanzar con Lisa y, después de eso, continué desarrollando el sistema por mi cuenta. Aunque todavía es un trabajo en progreso, puedo decir con confianza que he aprendido muchísimo durante este proceso. Este mes también pude enfocarme más en mi negocio de galletas, lo cual fue muy emocionante para mí. Hornee muchas galletas para diferentes eventos, pero mis favoritas probablemente fueron las de temática neón. Además, trabajé en el desarrollo de un nuevo sabor para San Valentín. Experimenté con dos tipos de galletas de red velvet, y creo que quedaron realmente deliciosas. Últimamente, también he estado explorando el concepto de abundancia. Empecé a escuchar diferentes videos sobre el tema y me di cuenta de que estamos constantemente rodeados de ella. Es una idea interesante porque no es algo en lo que realmente te fijas hasta que empiezas a prestarle atención. Noté que los árboles tienen una abundancia de hojas y que, durante estas vacaciones, tuve una abundancia de nuevas oportunidades.

December 2024

I never really grasp how important being flexible is, it wasn’t up until this month that I’m starting to write my thesis for Picacho where I am realizing how important it is to be flexible. Sometimes you want to start something and you have a whole plan on how you want to do it, however, it doesn’t always work out .

My plan for my thesis was to develop a program where I taught the importance of entrepreneurship to lower income communities, I wanted to teach them the basics of business so they would be able to start their own business and eventually grow it into something much bigger. However, I faced many difficulties after I realize that the community I wanted to focus on wasn’t as stable as I thought. That is why I will be shifting my focus on my thesis to a new subject. I still wish to help the community so I’m going to be working on developing the program program on my own. I am very excited for this project and I hope that a lot of people can be benefited.

I am very glad to be able to learn so many things throughout the different experiences that I get to have, I think it is a great opportunity that I am given from school to make this investigation because I am able to take so many new q with me.

November 2024

The deadline is right around the corner! Universities are waiting for my submissions! Eager to hear about my life journey so far! I’m writing essays until I feel like my hands are about to fall off. Thinking of what will make me more appealing towards universities, what should I talk about? My powerlifting story, maybe my Cookie business, different situations that I’ve had to face in my short life? There’s so many options yet I can’t seem to choose which one describes me best. What are three words that describe Tessa as a person? Maybe it could be intelligent, creative, perhaps, ambitious, that sounds about right. While writing all of these things, I come to realize how much I have been able to achieve! I become more proud of myself each day, and even more thankful for the people that have helped me make these dreams come true. I know it sounds cliché, but I don’t think there’s another way to describe it best, that feeling that I get every time that I am able to look at what I have created and look back to all of those helping hands that were willing to give me so much! Thank you to each and every one of you.

I have recently picked up reading again, the monarch foundation gave me this book that I had been meaning to read for a long time. You might know it already. It’s called Atomic Habits. This book talks about how you can make small changes every day that may seem un significant in a week, but if you keep doing them for a long period, then you will see amazing changes. I have learned to apply this knowledge in my life implementing new habits that will help me achieve many great things. For example, the first thing I do when I wake up instead of picking up my phone and checking social media, I have changed this bad habit and turned it into a new one. I now wake up and automatically put a video on YouTube that is teaching me something new. I also love to start my day by planning what are my “Big Three” of the day! I have enjoyed this book so much!

A book may seem boring to many, but something that a lot of people over look is how valuable these small pages can be. I mean, think about it, a book is someone’s life work summarized into about 250 pages. if you want to learn something, the easiest way to do it is by picking up a book. I seem to have fallen in love with reading all over again. And I can’t wait to dive deep and dissect more books.

October 2024

Life suddenly seems to rush by. So many great opportunities stepping in front of me, and I lean forward trying to catch them. I believe that these opportunities are here thanks to the hard efforts that I have put in over the last two years.

Im so excited to be stepping into this new life chapter, I feel like I have the opportunity to be reborn. And I know that may sound cliché, however, going to college to me means that I will be stepping out of my comfort zone, something that seems scary, yet it makes me buzz with excitement.

Over the last few months I have been able to start working on my college applications, having the opportunity to determine where it is I want to live is something that is truly salient for my future. Not only will I immerse myself in new cultures, I will also surround myself with completely new environments. Getting the opportunity to choose what education I will get, trying to decipher what it is that I want to pursue, all of these things are amazing opportunities that I will cherish, and make the best out of. I cannot stress enough, how thankful I am to be able to go after my dreams. I know it is something that not a lot of people get to do.

This last month I had to make a hard choice. I had to see what my goals were, what I saw for myself in the future. Whether that be going off to Europe, continuing my Cookie business, learning a language, or competing in Powerlifting. These are all things that I really enjoyed doing, but I understand that sometimes you have to make sacrifices, in this case, I decided to choose my education and my business. These are both things that truly speak to who I am, and who I want to become in the future. And although it was hard, I decided to end the chapter of competing. This was due to my many reasons. One of them being that I wish to focus more on my education, I also want to put more time and effort into my business.

I learned many valuable things while training, while traveling, and when competing. I learned that winning doesn’t always mean getting a metal, it can also mean, taking truly amazing experiences and life lessons back with you, and being able to teach other people what you have learned throughout these adventures. So my heart is warm, knowing that this choice was made because there is so much more to come.

1 August 2024

My latest pursuit is Malta! Aiming to accomplish my personal records and setting harder goals for myself. I am truly proud of myself for coming this far! Representing my country makes me feel abundantly honored. I wish to make my family proud.

Looking for my University has also played an important role during these vacations! I am thrilled to learn more about where my studies can take me! Every day of research fills me with more excitement towards my future. Looking at the different opportunities that my hard work provides for me, giving me a glimpse of what my future holds for me. I know what I am capable of, and I cant wait to pursue what I love.

My cookie business is a priority as well, I aim to research more every day in order to fully submerge myself in how I can manage my business better and in a greater scale, I am passionate about growing this project that I have, knowing that it is teaching me an immense amount of knowledge, and teaching me the importance of responsibility.