Ixa Dariana

My name is Ixa and I live in the city of Matagalpa, in northwestern Nicaragua. My childhood was marked by the affection of my grandmother, with whom I grew up and lived because my parents were dedicated to working. Although I did not live with them, my parents were always present in a certain way in my life. One of my biggest challenges growing up was feeling like I couldn't be completely myself; my mom wanted me to be a specific way and that sometimes made me feel that I had to comply with their expectations instead of discovering who I really was.

I grew up hearing about Jesus when I went to church with my grandmother, but personally that Jesus scared me because I had been taught that if I behaved badly, he would punish me. However, it wasn’t until I went to Young Life camp that I came to truly know him. I not only understood more deeply who Jesus was, but I felt his presence, and I realized that he loved me and accepted me as I was. From that moment, I started a true relationship with Jesus, which was the catalyst for great change in my life.

Now with this Developing Global Leaders scholarship opportunity, I am studying business law at the University of Commercial Sciences. One of my objectives is to form an office where I can attend to both private and public matters of law, providing quality service to people who require it and have a stable job that supports my needs. As a ministry leader, my vision is that every step of my educational and professional path reflects my relationship with Jesus. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university.