STORY BY ALONSO J. RODRIGUEZ
Maybe some of you have seen the Paraguayan flag flying in Hays at the Sister Cities Plaza and felt surprised about it because, apparently, there is nothing in common between the US and Paraguay. But there are not just Paraguayan flags around Hays, we have real people from Paraguay living day by day here: studying, working, and representing our College with their great Men’s Soccer performances.
You can also find Paraguayans around the whole state because Paraguay and the Sunflower state have a partnership that provides to all of the Paraguayans students who want to come here in-state tuition to give them the chance to live a unique experience studying in the US.
I have spoken to some of them in person to know their stories and why they do consider Hays like a second home. Keep reading this story and you will find a story of people who decided to sacrifice everything to improve, building a better future for them and their families.
Mauricio Etcheverry is a senior from Asuncion, Paraguay. He is studying International Business and he came here to learn, primarily, how to speak in English fluently and get the degree. Also, he would like to have some experience working at least a year here in the US, and then make the difference coming back to Paraguay to be a successful businessman.
“The reason why I came to the United States was because the Paraguay economy is not the greatest,” Etcheverry said. “I have goals and ambitions to succeed in life and I felt that in order to do so I needed to take advantage of the opportunities that were given to me. That is why I chose to come to the United States to start a new life, that would help my dreams come true.”
Arsenio Chamorro and Agustin Meza both have similar goals and are expecting to get their bachelor’s degree. However, they would like to work towards their master’s degree as well to keep learning and be more competitive for their professional working world.
Sergio Villalba is one of the captains of the FHSU Men’s Soccer Team. He’s been studying Physics since 2016.
“[I came to Hays] because in Paraguay there is no chance to make soccer and college life compatible,” Villalba said. “The conditions and the resources are better here, so it is much easier to develop your knowledge and your soccer skills at the same time”.
Villalba said that prior to coming to FHSU, he had never left his country and he has experienced some of his best times in Hays.
“When I came here I was 17 years old and I had never left my country, and I started over here in the US taking a lot of responsibilities that I have never had. I grew up, I am a man now who can live on his own, that can earn his own money working hard, and also keep being focused on soccer and my degree,” he said. “Also, I cannot talk about the best experience that I ever had because I have a lot of good memories. But I will like to highlight the all good times that I have lived here through the years here thanks to the people that are accompanying me day by day”.
Tobias Patino is the oldest Paraguayan student on campus. He’s one of the most important figures that the soccer program has had. An All-MIAA midfield player, All-Central Region midfield player, and also a participant of the most successful year of the program with a main role in the team — Patino is a graduate student in Finance and also he studies a master’s degree to keep learning/improving.
Patino said one of the main differences between his home country and the United States is the opportunity.
“It is obvious that the US is a more developed country with thousands more opportunities,” Patino said. “It is very challenging because you have to invest all that you have to be the best but I tried to take advantage of those chances that FHSU provided me, because that is what this experience is enriching us all that much, we are getting a more competitive mentality trying to get better day by day, not only as a student, but as a person.
“I also have to still be proud of my country and where I come from. In Paraguay, we are more likely to spend time with the family, and I can assure you that the food is amazing. Our customs, tradition, and culture are things that I miss every single day, but I still have the feeling that is worth it to be where I am now because I have the determination to reach the goals that I plan every year.”
Today we just had the chance to live another inspirational story about how some kids who can barely speak English at the beginning make a great effort to grow up and be the person that they always desired to be. They are from Paraguay, but we could say that Hays is their home and they will be grateful for the rest of their life.