From Curious Kid to Engineer: Rosy’s Journey with Na’atik

When Rosy Noemí Viana Chay looks back on her childhood in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, one word comes to mind: curiosity. Born in Chetumal and raised as an only child, she was always looking for something or someone to have fun with. But more than anything else, she loved school. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming an English teacher. Although her career path eventually shifted, her love of learning and of the English language marked the beginning of a life-changing journey.

A New Chapter Begins with Na’atik

Rosy first came to Na’atik when she was about nine years old. There was a teacher strike at her primary school, and her parents, wanting to keep her engaged, signed her up for English classes at Na’atik. She still remembers her first teacher, Margaret Thompson, and how after just one class she told her father, “I loved it. I want to stay.”

Learning English at Na’atik came naturally to Rosy. Although she had never taken formal classes before, her father had introduced her to some basic vocabulary using children’s books. With her love for studying and her self-described “little nerd” personality, she felt right at home. Na’atik’s approach adapted to her age, interests, and learning style, which made a big difference.

A Place That Left a Mark

Na’atik quickly became more than just a school. It was a second home. Rosy especially enjoyed the extracurricular activities that gave her something exciting to do outside of school and home. One of her favorite memories is the Christmas Festival in December 2012. Just three months after starting, she and her group performed “Winter Wonderland.” She took it on as both a challenge and a fun opportunity and from then on she participated in every festival she could.

As she grew older, certain teachers left a lasting impression. Rosy remembers Paul Allen, whose disciplined teaching style gave structure to her learning. She says his classes were exactly what teenagers needed to take English seriously and she believes it was during his classes that she learned the most. She also speaks highly of Rachel, a teacher from England, whose warmth and effective teaching approach inspired her.

Meeting and learning alongside international volunteers and students was another highlight. Rosy loved talking to people from places like Houston and Hawaii. She was fascinated by their accents and curious about where they came from. As an outgoing student, these connections helped her realize just how big the world was and that she could be part of it.

A New Dream Emerges

While Rosy once dreamed of becoming a teacher, her plans shifted in high school. She had considered moving to Mérida to study more languages, but because of her age she stayed in Carrillo Puerto and enrolled in the local technical high school, CEBETIS. There, she chose the electricity track, inspired by her interest in hands-on work and her father, who is a trained electrician. Once she started working with her hands, something clicked. Her goal changed. She decided she wanted to be an engineer.

Today, Rosy studies Energy Systems Engineering at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo. Even though her career path changed, English has remained an important part of her life. From middle school onward, she stood out in the subject, often completing entire English workbooks in a single afternoon and tutoring classmates. In university, she didn’t have to take English modules because she passed the highest-level placement exam with excellent scores.

Rosy says she never felt as motivated or excited to study English anywhere else the way she did at Na’atik. “I never studied English with so much enthusiasm and joy as I did there,” she says. She also expresses deep gratitude to Na’atik and to Catherine for supporting her with a scholarship during difficult times, which allowed her to continue learning.

Looking Ahead and Giving Back

To Rosy, Na’atik is more than a language center. It is a space that transforms lives.

“It opens up completely new perspectives for children in Carrillo Puerto. It allows them to discover the world without ever leaving their town. It boosts their confidence and gives them better opportunities.”

What would she say to a young girl in her community who is afraid of learning English? Or to someone who believes English isn’t that important?

“Let go of the fear. Forget the idea that it’s boring or too hard. You just have to sit down and study, read, review. Some people say learning English is difficult, but Na’atik makes it feel easy.”

When asked to sum up her journey from Na’atik to where she is today, Rosy responds with clarity and pride:

“Thanks to Na’atik, I discovered the world is bigger than I ever imagined and I have a place in it.”

To learn more about Na’atik’s English language program for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, visit our Impact Page. We are only able to provide this much needed program thanks to the support of generous donors and the funds raised from our award winning Maya and Spanish Immersion Program. If you would like to support our mission please consider donating today or take a look at our immersion programs and online class packages.