Juan Ignacio Güenechea Rodríguez - 56th Promotion, finished in 2013
I have been living in New York since September. A newcomer.
I am the Coordinator of Institutional Relations and Communications for a private foundation in the USA: the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute.
Although I have only lived in New York for a short time, I have had the opportunity to work with many US citizens. First of all, it should be noted that in such a large and complex country it is difficult to choose appropriate characteristics that define its entire population. However, in a synthesis exercise I would praise its spirit of growth and looking to the future with ambition. On the other hand, it is a more individualistic and solitary country than the vast majority of Spanish-speaking countries to which we are more accustomed and, depending on one's personality, it can be hard.
If memory serves me correctly, just before the pandemic. Let's see if I can come back soon.
It would be very difficult to choose just one. I remember with great affection the great atmosphere we had with the teachers in our class and a carol that we all composed and sang as a farewell song at our last Christmas party. I also remember the death of Mr. Roberto Martínez (D.E.P.), which, although it was a hard and sad moment, I think it showed the human warmth of the school and the union between students, families and teachers.
I think the one that was our motto as students "Be our yes, yes. Be our no, no". When you meet people from the school you know that they are trained to be people who are not duplicitous and who are genuine, someone that others can trust. That attitude I think is more necessary than ever in this day and age. I hope they say that about me too.
At the moment I've only just arrived so we'll see. The idea is to spend a few years here and make the most of the experience of a city like New York, which has always attracted me a lot. However, I do think that in the future I will end up returning to Spain, the quality of life we have is worthy of envy.
I can't list them all because it would take too long to answer. I think that for many of my generation, Mr. Ibon Estrada was a high school head of studies of whom we have special memories. But I really have great memories of all of them.
May we all continue to carry the name of Gaztelueta with pride wherever we go and try to give back to the school everything it has given us. Oh, and if you are in New York, let's meet up to watch an Athletic match.
