Ruth Carina was seventeen when we met her and her newborn daughter in the shelter for women in Cusco. Now, a year later, she has finished high school and works two jobs to provide for herself and Yhandy. Her dream is to start nursing school in the fall. And we are going to help her do it.
In the park last week, we asked her about her dream.
When did you first dream of becoming a nurse?
When I was eight, my little sister Lordes burned her leg very badly. I don’t remember how it happened. Maybe an oven. No one was watching us. We didn’t have access to a hospital. I wanted to help my sister, but I didn’t know how. From that day on I wanted to become a nurse.
As I’m watching you tend to your daughter Yhandy, it’s obvious that you love to care for other people. Can you tell me about some times in your life when you’ve taken care of others?
I love helping other people. I’ve worked full-time since I was 11. I’ve never had much, but I try to help people anyway I can.
I’ve always helped my two younger sisters buy school supplies and food when they don’t have what they needed.
And one time, I helped a very old grandmother in the street. The grandma was asking for money. I didn’t have much, but I gave the grandma what I had.
In high school, I always shared what I had with my classmates. If I had fruit, I would share it all. If I had money and my friends needed a photocopy of their homework assignment, I would lend them a few cents for the copies.
If you had all the money in the world right now, what would you do?
I would go to nursing school. And I’d help my little sisters.
Would you want a new house, new clothes or anything else?
(She thought about this question for a while, then smiled).
No. I just want to go to nursing school.
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