From Student to Teacher: Angel's Lifeline Journey

How one teacher, supported by the Lifeline community, changed Angel's life forever.

"I never thought I'd be standing in front of a classroom," says Angel, now a 21-year-old computer science teacher at Lifeline's Ocotillo School. "But one teacher believed in me when no one else did."

As a shy 7th grader at Lifeline, Angel found himself drawn to computers. His teacher didn't just teach him computer skills. He showed him a future no one in his family had ever achieved: higher education. That single mentorship completely redirected Angel's life path.

"My teacher saw something in me I couldn't see in myself," he explains. "He convinced me I could be the first in my family to attend university."

With this guidance, Angel became a first-generation college graduate in computer science. After graduation, the cycle continued when he learned about a teaching position at the very same Lifeline school that had shaped him. "I felt called to return and create for others what had been created for me," he says.

Today, he teaches 12th-grade coding, programming, web design, and computer repair. The impact is already multiplying. "One of my students discovered his fascination with computers last year," he shares. "Now he's studying computer science at a university, just like I did."

A Safe Haven

Angel found acceptance at Lifeline that he couldn’t find elsewhere. "The teachers and staff made me feel valued. Learning about God here gave me confidence when I needed it most."

His experience in public school was different. "My classmates isolated me and called me names. They made me feel like an outsider, which crushed my self-esteem." The support he received at Lifeline transformed him from an isolated student into a confident teacher who now provides that same safe environment for others.

"Teaching has helped me grow beyond my comfort zone," Angel reflects. "Nothing compares to seeing students discover their potential." 

By returning to Lifeline as an educator, he has come full circle from receiving guidance to providing it.

Education Beyond Ocotillo

At Lifeline, we are dedicated to investing in education because we have seen it transform life after life!

Beyond the Lifeline school in Ocotillo, Honduras, we are privileged to walk alongside students and staff in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, as well as those in Haiti and Arizona.

Local lifeline staff are also actively helping young people and adults enroll in Lifeline's vocational and economic empowerment programs across Central America. These programs have helped hundreds of people build the future they have always dreamed of—one full of purpose and potential.

Your Generosity Makes These Transformations Possible

Through the generous support of Lifeline partners, stories like Angel's happen every day. What began as an investment in one shy student has multiplied, touching many young lives as Angel continues the legacy at Lifeline.

But, there are still so many students and adults looking for a path to a brighter future and we need your help to give them that opportunity. 

Will you please consider giving a donation today to ensure more stories like this are possible?

Your gift can create lasting change that transforms generations! Every dollar provides resources, teachers, and safe spaces that help people move from a life of uncertainty to one filled with purpose.