Meet Cristo

Hello, my name is Cristo and I am originally from the state of Michoacán. During my childhood, I went through certain difficulties because I did not have the necessary resources for my expenses, this was a result of the abandonment by my parents at a very young age. When I was two years old my parents separated, I haven’t had the privilege of knowing my mother, because after she and my father separated, she wasn’t feeling mentally good and left me with one of my older sisters with whom I grew up and she is the one I consider my mother. My dad hasn’t dared to visit me whenever I go on vacation, and he didn’t have it either before I even begin studying at Boystown. 

My sister sometimes would tell me about my past and our parents, but she didn’t give me much information and to this day I continue to question the reason for their separation. When they left me at my sister’s house, it was very difficult for her to be able to give me food because her husband was very chauvinist and didn’t work, she was 24 years old and it was very difficult to find a job. At the age of four, I started preschool and that is how my student life began, later at the age of six I started elementary school, that is where I met some of my best friends. By then my sister had given birth to a girl. 

When I was in sixth grade, my sister told me about a school and took me to take the admission exam. She told me that I would continue my studies at this school since she could not continue paying for my school expenses. After a month, the results came in and I had passed, the admitted exam. My sister María Candelaria was very happy since she knew that I would do well in this school where I would continue to study academically. After finishing 6th grade, I started my trip to Guadalajara in search of something better and the best future. However, when I left my home, I felt very scared and sad because I was going to leave my sister alone with her daughter and her husband that mistreated her. 

When I first when inside Boystown, the first things that struck me were the big buildings and the thought that this was my new home, without a doubt it was much better than the previous one in which I had spent much of my childhood. The first day that I was here I felt very excited since they had told me certain characteristics that this place had, but the one that most caught my attention was that in this school there were children from all over the Mexican Republic, without a doubt I would make many friends. 

I saw some women who wore habit (These are the Sisters of Mary who take care of us) whom I later called Mothers, they received us with much love in this great house, when we went inside the buildings, they assigned us to one of the Sisters of Mary who overtime gave me and my new colleagues support. As the months passed, I began to adapt to this home school’s activities, but it was not entirely easy for me because I was very concerned about my sister’s situation. 

Throughout the four years that I have studied at Boystown, the mothers supported me with everything I needed and provided me not just with a roof to live but great love, this is what I liked the most about them. Four and a half years have passed since I arrived and during all this time, I have been able to become aware of the meaning of life, and I have realized that great effort and determination are needed to obtain something. 

I have learned about automobiles within the institution and how to repair them aesthetically in the Auto Bodyshop career. However, this is not the job that I want to do for the rest of my life because I want to be an Automotive Engineer. Soon I will graduate from Boystown.  The day is approaching and I’m also aware that once I graduate, I have to take responsibility for my expenses, so I have decided that once I graduate in July I will work for the rest of the year and then with the savings obtained I’ll be able to pay for college. 

All the achievements I have obtained in this school are thanks to the people who are helping Boystown every day, just like you do our dear benefactors, for which today I want to take the opportunity to thank you with all my heart. May God reward you in Heaven. Thanks for your love and charity. I want you to know that without your help I wouldn’t be the person I’m now. Instead, I would have been doing bad things, like addiction to drugs and things like that.  I want to let you know that just like you have saved me you also have saved many other lives. Please continue supporting us. Thank you so much and God Bless You and your beloved ones.