Five years ago, The MJ Project had the honor of befriending a fifteen year old girl from the small town of London, CA. The recipient of our first personal library — mother looking on proudly as chickens scurried about their backyard — Monse Hernandez displayed the poise, confidence, and humility we knew would serve her well, especially in hard times like these.
“Life feels like a science fiction novel come alive. As a student at Fresno State, stress has always been a given, but now COVID-19 has added a whole new level of anxiety I didn’t know was possible. However, with this grim and dark picture that is today’s reality, I’m still grateful.”
At The MJ Project, we pride ourselves on the ongoing nature of the relationships we have with this crazy “family” we have somehow hatched; but Monse was always different, a constant light in our lives that only grew brighter as her talents blossomed, one of which is her amazing perspective.
“Stress means I am still alive. Stress means I have something to worry about. I get to complain about how difficult times are and the hardships they have placed on my education. But I know that sadly, at this very moment, most people don’t have that luxury. It took the world falling apart to realize what really matters, and for me, that’s my education, my family, and staying creative.”
Creative – adj.
- Involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work
- The ability to solve a problem in a new and often ingenious way
Synonyms: gifted, precocious, Monse
“Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had to constantly remind myself that this is not the end. Though gloom surrounds me, my career remains the passion in my life. I’m committed to pursuing it because my spirit demands it, and not even this pandemic can get in my way.”
The longer we know Monse, the more we appreciate how blessed we are to have her in our lives. A favorite part of the holidays is that much-anticipated email from Monse, catching us up on her march to success, expressing gratitude for our continued interest and support, always ending with the same question: “Do you guys still give away books?” Yes, Monse, we do.
“This event has forced me to change my way of life, but I will not let it change what matters to me. Times are hard, not just emotionally but economically as well, and all of my family’s money should be focused on keeping us safe, so I understand creative essentials aren’t a priority. However, being creative helps me stay grounded and gets me closer to graduation, and for a while I was at a standstill, especially with an online course that needed technology I didn’t have.”
Have you ever had that intuition, that sixth sense that says something’s just not right with a loved one? So have we, that loved one being Monse, our first and now forever friend who in so many ways continues to be our inspiration, our guiding light.
“With the generous help of my Project Resilience Grant, I was able to update my computer and also get creative materials, not just for my education, but also for me. Just simply me. To be able to take a breath from all this stress. Thank you MJ Project, for making me smile again.”
“When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will find a solution.” Andy Andrews
#BeLikeMonse
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