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WHO AM I?
My name is Dionne Audrey Highley. I was born in the beautiful andean mountains of Quito, Ecuador on August 21, 1999. I am 18 years old and currently attend Fundación Colegio Americano de Quito. |
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MY BICULTURAL IDENTITY
My dad, Robert Highley, was born and raised in the USA and my mom, Yomar Rubio, was born and raised in Ecuador. They married soon after meeting at a wedding 25 years ago in Quito. My older sister Solansch could be a role model for anyone. I love her dearly. My parents combined 2 different cultures and created our own unique bicultural family. We celebrate holidays, sing songs and eat foods in a distinctive way. It’s been fun, colorful, unusual, and always full of lots of love.
My mother is a constant inspiration to me. Her father died when she was just nine years old. My grandmother struggled but persevered to provide and raise my mother and her other two children. My mother’s side of the family will never forget their struggles and are more sensitive to those in need as a result.
My mother is a constant inspiration to me. Her father died when she was just nine years old. My grandmother struggled but persevered to provide and raise my mother and her other two children. My mother’s side of the family will never forget their struggles and are more sensitive to those in need as a result.
Mom was also in a horrible car accident 21 years ago. Doctor Jose M. Aguirre saved her life, but none thought she would ever walk again. She spent 6 months in bed with a body cast and over one year in a wheel chair before taking her first step. She proved everyone wrong and Doctor Aguirre still glows with happiness when we have the opportunity to meet. My mother is a humble, caring, marvelous person that appreciates life and all of the beauty that it has to offer.
Living in Ecuador and traveling has exposed me to the poverty, injustice and corruption in the world. I chose to get involved with issues within Ecuador and travel to other parts of the world to witness and learn first hand. Our bicultural family has increased my awareness of the world and knowledge of cultural differences and preferences. I want to take advantage of the all the experiences and opportunities with which I have been blessed to help people all around the world.
Mom was also in a horrible car accident 21 years ago. Doctor Jose M. Aguirre saved her life, but none thought she would ever walk again. She spent 6 months in bed with a body cast and over one year in a wheel chair before taking her first step. She proved everyone wrong and Doctor Aguirre still glows with happiness when we have the opportunity to meet. My mother is a humble, caring, marvelous person that appreciates life and all of the beauty that it has to offer.
Living in Ecuador and traveling has exposed me to the poverty, injustice and corruption in the world. I chose to get involved with issues within Ecuador and travel to other parts of the world to witness and learn first hand. Our bicultural family has increased my awareness of the world and knowledge of cultural differences and preferences. I want to take advantage of the all the experiences and opportunities with which I have been blessed to help people all around the world.
ABOUT ME!
My passion for helping others and getting involved in community issues has developed over the years. I think that it is essential that we all contribute to make the world a better place. Environmental issues and international affairs are very important to me. I have had the opportunity to be involved in various community service projects in Ecuador, the United States, Indonesia and Tanzania. These experiences have permitted me to immerse myself in different cultures, languages and religions. I recognize that I am fortunate in many ways and believe that it is our responsibility to help the less fortunate. I believe it is the responsibility of my generation, the millennials to plant progressive seeds for future generations. “Plant trees under whose shade you will never sit”.
The GLA (Global Leadership Adventure) summer programs have given me the opportunity to visit amazing places and acquire a new, different view about the world and myself.
The summer of 10th grade I travelled to Indonesia. This program allowed me to explore a completely different part of the world. Indonesia is one of the most picturesque destinations on Earth. It is a very spiritual culture and the people I met were wonderful. We visited temples, attending traditional ceremonies and participated in local Indonesian rituals. We discussed environmental issues faced by different communities, problems faced by rice farmers and the overall impact of tourism on the island.
The next summer of 11th grade I travelled to Tanzania, Africa. This program allowed me to explore the real Africa that it not seen by tourists or in movies. The people I met were very friendly and welcoming. We saw the incredible wildlife and visited the Maasai warrior tribe. I was especially excited to see a plack honoring an Ecuadorian who held a climbing record when we visited Mount Kilimanjaro. It is a small world. Through the GLA programs I became part of the communities. We interacted with the locals and taught English to the children. I created unforgettable bonds with the local staff and my students, which I will cherish forever in my heart.
There is nothing that compares to witnessing poverty first hand. Ecuador is considered a third would country and I am very conscientious of the less fortunate. The poverty that I have witnessed affects my everyday actions and my attitude towards life in general. I want to be a leader that promotes world change. For this reason, I joined the United Nations Club at my school to gain experience in politics, international relations, negotiations and current events. I share the United Nation goal to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education and to promote gender equality.
I also took part in a volunteer program in the fascinating island of the Galapagos, where I was able to learn about the environmental threats the island faces due to climate change, pollution, overfishing, and invasive species. I learned to remove invasive species, care for tortoises and focus on picking up trash off the streets. The preservation and protection of the environment will always be a passion for me.
My passion for helping others and getting involved in community issues has developed over the years. I think that it is essential that we all contribute to make the world a better place. Environmental issues and international affairs are very important to me. I have had the opportunity to be involved in various community service projects in Ecuador, the United States, Indonesia and Tanzania. These experiences have permitted me to immerse myself in different cultures, languages and religions. I recognize that I am fortunate in many ways and believe that it is our responsibility to help the less fortunate. I believe it is the responsibility of my generation, the millennials to plant progressive seeds for future generations. “Plant trees under whose shade you will never sit”.
The GLA (Global Leadership Adventure) summer programs have given me the opportunity to visit amazing places and acquire a new, different view about the world and myself.
The summer of 10th grade I travelled to Indonesia. This program allowed me to explore a completely different part of the world. Indonesia is one of the most picturesque destinations on Earth. It is a very spiritual culture and the people I met were wonderful. We visited temples, attending traditional ceremonies and participated in local Indonesian rituals. We discussed environmental issues faced by different communities, problems faced by rice farmers and the overall impact of tourism on the island.
The next summer of 11th grade I travelled to Tanzania, Africa. This program allowed me to explore the real Africa that it not seen by tourists or in movies. The people I met were very friendly and welcoming. We saw the incredible wildlife and visited the Maasai warrior tribe. I was especially excited to see a plack honoring an Ecuadorian who held a climbing record when we visited Mount Kilimanjaro. It is a small world. Through the GLA programs I became part of the communities. We interacted with the locals and taught English to the children. I created unforgettable bonds with the local staff and my students, which I will cherish forever in my heart.
There is nothing that compares to witnessing poverty first hand. Ecuador is considered a third would country and I am very conscientious of the less fortunate. The poverty that I have witnessed affects my everyday actions and my attitude towards life in general. I want to be a leader that promotes world change. For this reason, I joined the United Nations Club at my school to gain experience in politics, international relations, negotiations and current events. I share the United Nation goal to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education and to promote gender equality.
I also took part in a volunteer program in the fascinating island of the Galapagos, where I was able to learn about the environmental threats the island faces due to climate change, pollution, overfishing, and invasive species. I learned to remove invasive species, care for tortoises and focus on picking up trash off the streets. The preservation and protection of the environment will always be a passion for me.
Being Beyond Lagartococha
The Beyond Lagartococha project changed my life significantly. Juliana Pallares and I founded the project in 2015. I was always fascinated by Juiliana’s connection with the Secoyas but never imagined how important they would become to me.
We are small group high school students that got together and decided to use our resources to help an ethnic minority inside our own country of Ecuador. We built a school for the Secoya children and also built new friendships and awareness. The laughter and smiles we shared can never be forgotten. The Amazon is one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. The simple, beautiful life of the Secoyas in the Amazon is inspiring. The Secoyas are very grateful to us but the reality is that they have given me more than anything I could ever give them. I appreciate life and community now more than ever. Every Secoya plays a significant role to make their community prosper. People working together with different expertise to support one another in order to make the tribe grow and succeed. It is an inspiration for the world.
We are small group high school students that got together and decided to use our resources to help an ethnic minority inside our own country of Ecuador. We built a school for the Secoya children and also built new friendships and awareness. The laughter and smiles we shared can never be forgotten. The Amazon is one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. The simple, beautiful life of the Secoyas in the Amazon is inspiring. The Secoyas are very grateful to us but the reality is that they have given me more than anything I could ever give them. I appreciate life and community now more than ever. Every Secoya plays a significant role to make their community prosper. People working together with different expertise to support one another in order to make the tribe grow and succeed. It is an inspiration for the world.
Feel free to contact me at dionnehighleyaudrey@gmail.com