By Karen Alley, Guilford College website
Walking along the tree-lined sidewalks of Guilford College, Exel Valle Estrada looks like any other college student. But the story of how he arrived at this place is a phenomenal tale of hard work and dedication. Just six years ago, Exel was working as a carpenter’s assistant and going to classes at night. “I told my classmates I wanted to be in school forever because I really enjoy learning, and they thought I was crazy,” Exel says. “In Guatemala, if you’re a carpenter you stay a carpenter all your life, or if you’re a farmer you stay a farmer. I wanted more.” He knew school was a way to make something different with his life.
At the age of 14, Exel’s life changed dramatically when he was able to join his mother in Baltimore, MD, and go to high school in America. “High school was a struggle in many ways,” Exel said. “I was having to learn English, take a full load of classes and work to help the family.” With the help and support of his teachers and guidance counselors, Exel not only performed well in high school but was able to receive a number of merit-based scholarships to help him attend Guilford College, including the Bonner Scholarship, the Eugene Thompson Scholarship and the Mirabelli-Heller Natural Sciences Award.
Today, Exel uses his experiences to help others struggling to find their way in America. He volunteers as a guide for an after-school assistance program at Northeast Guilford High School, helping students explore their post-high school options, and is developing a website of resources for immigrant students. “I know first-hand how important it is to have a support system in place to help you succeed in school,” Exel says.
That support system doesn’t stop with high school. Thanks to a gift from Jon and Marigny Bostock, ’99 and ’01, Guilford College is the only school outside of California with an immigrant student coordinator. Liz Torres Melendez serves as a resource for Exel and all of Guilford’s immigrant population, helping navigate the world of FAFSA applications, health services, residency determinations and much more. “At a campus without this service these students have to do the leg work themselves, and it’s a big emotional and mental strain,” Liz says.
In addition to his work at the high school, Exel also volunteers with Cone Health, Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Association. “I’m interested in going to medical school and working in the healthcare field, so I’m doing as much as I can to learn about the environment,” Exel says. The volunteer work complements his academic studies as a Biology and Health Sciences major. Exel credits his preparation for medical school through rigorous academics, an “amazing” science department and incredible professors as one of his main draws to Guilford.
“I am really grateful for the scholarships that enabled me to attend college here,” Exel says. “They have not only given me the opportunity to pursue the education I always dreamed of, but also opened my eyes to so much more. I have the opportunity to give back to others through volunteer work, and also have met many new mentors and developed strong friendships. I was looking for a college with diversity and a great sense of community, and I found that here at Guilford College.”