Mexican student Everardo captures hearts at International Student
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:07:00 GMT
During his journey, Everardo Gutiérrez–Enríquez has crossed continents and witnessed a great deal of suffering. It was his desire to acquire the tools and develop the skills needed to alleviate other people's anguish that brought him to the University of Huddersfield, where he completed a BSc degree in psychology and counselling.
As a former pastoral support worker, he has worked on behalf of disadvantaged people in remote corners of his native Mexico and with impoverished, psychologically-damaged migrants in a US border town. He is currently involved in a charity that seeks to help people from a Latin American background living in the UK.
But for one night at least, Everardo himself was in the spotlight, as a finalist in a prestigious award scheme run by the British Council, the UK's international cultural relations body.
The International Student Awards, or Shine Awards, aim to celebrate the contribution made by overseas students at UK universities. To enter, each student is asked to write a personal letter, detailing extra-curricular achievements, including volunteering and involvement in community projects that illustrate how they are making the most of their time in the UK.
Within his letter, Everardo, aged 41, was able to list outstanding personal achievements that have contributed towards his award. Initially he made some good friends through practice counselling sessions and also volunteered as a student representative on his course. This led to him being given a student ambassador scheme job within the University.
During his first summer break in Huddersfield he gained employment with the National Coal Mining Museum, which is situated between Huddersfield and Wakefield, as an activities animator and last summer worked with a charity organisation in Scotland with decorating and welcoming people to study for meditating days.
After three rounds of judging for the Shine Awards, in which this year a total of 1,300 students from 120 countries were assessed, 12 regional winners were chosen. Everardo was selected as the Yorkshire and Humber candidate – with a £1,000 prize – and he attended a two-day celebration and awards ceremony in London in April, capturing the audience's heart despite narrowly missing out on the top prize.
It is the latest phase in an eventful life that began in Mexico's second city, Guadalajara, where Everardo, whose father was a refuse collector, was the seventh of nine children. From the age of 11 his course in life seemed clear – to support the vulnerable and more disadvantaged people in his country and then to do the same abroad wherever his skills and qualification allow him. He eventually acquired a theology degree and became involved with the programmes and projects working with the Xaverian Missionaries in various Mexican cities, teaching Bible studies and carrying out pastoral care, and promoting 'justice and peace campaigns'.
The most important period of his life so far, says Everardo, was the five years spent in a remote area living with the 'Nahuatls', an indigenous Mexican group who are descendents of the Aztecs. But while Everardo's religious beliefs remained intact, he began to question whether or not his future lay as a missionary. He left his job for a while and joined a friend who was working as a missionary in an Arizona town close to the US-Mexican border.
There he encountered migrants – many of them illegal – who had crossed into the USA, often from as far away as Salvador, Guatemala and even from Mexico. "Often their feet were bleeding from their journeys," he recalls. "But apart from their physical state, many of the migrants were psychologically damaged."
"As I started to talk to these people I didn't know what to do. As a religious worker I was used to dealing with the spiritual dimension. But these people had major mental health problems, such as depression, anxieties and very low self-esteem. Some even showed signs of some kind of paranoia."
In order to equip himself to deal with such issues, Everardo decided to undergo university study. But where? As a Mexican, he had encountered prejudice in the USA. He had visited the UK and knew he would feel more comfortable in this country. A British friend helped to guide him through the British university application process.
Initially, Everardo set his heart on study at a university in London, but he was confused and treated in an offhand manner when he attended an interview. The people at the University of Huddersfield proved to be a complete contrast and its International Office proved to be enormously friendly and helpful.
He began his studies within the School of Human and Health Sciences in 2007 and is delighted by his choice of university. Huddersfield has become his home, he says, and one of his goals is to return for PhD study in counselling.
Meanwhile, Everardo is completing a dissertation on the emotional impact of Latin American people who come to the UK. And he works with a Spanish charitable organisation, Teléfono de la Esperanza, dealing with similar issues, that has founded a branch in London.
He said: "I am so happy and overwhelmed with this honour of being nominated as International Student of the Year. As a Mexican I feel very privileged and honoured having this opportunity to build up homage to life. Life is so precious and it's worthy to spend life pushing your limits and taking seriously the challenges of being a human being."
Sue Staples, Head of the International Office at the University, said: "As someone who participates fully in University and community life, Everardo is a fantastic ambassador for Huddersfield in every sense, and the award recognises this. We are really proud of his achievement – he's beaten 150 applicants from the Yorkshire and Humber region with his winning composition – and we are behind him every step of the way as he goes forward to embrace the rest that life has to offer."
Everardo at the awards with TV presenter Konnie Huq
Everardo being interviewed before the awards by Mexican TV station
