Trust Yourself and the Results Will Follow Salvador Guerrero ‘23 (Honduras

Salvador Guerrero Editor’s Note: Through his gentle and powerful voice, Salvador opens us to his inner dialogue and the struggle to discover the trust in self so essential to conscious peacebuiding practices.

This last semester I’ve learned plenty of things; one that I’m very proud of is how to deal with conflict. Conflict can take many forms, and it can come from a variety of sources. Most often, conflict comes from a lack of understanding as we’re all very different—shaped by the countless experience we’ve had throughout our lives. Something you find normal might be offensive to me, just as my actions may be misinterpreted by you. Conflict can also be internal.

Last semester, my internal conflicts were centered around self-doubt. Coming into a much more rigorous academic and social environment, I’ve learned to value the power of trust. I found it much harder to do the same things I used to do back home. For example, writing this entry might’ve taken me twice as long, because I would dedicate too much time to correcting myself or setting the task for later. I was extremely reluctant to start my assignments, think about a class I found hard, or continue some of my projects. I could not understand what was happening to me; I thought something must have changed in me.

Through internal dialogue (during my break) I finally found out what this change was. I had started to doubt myself. I didn’t want to think about my chemistry class because I doubted my capacity to succeed in it. The projects that brought so much joy to me back home had become stressful because I no longer trusted that I would succeed in making them a reality.

Back home, I often participated in various chess and spelling bee competitions; coming here, I asked myself how I dealt with such a “stressful” environment of uncertainty and challenge. I found that I had never doubted myself—I knew I was more than capable of succeeding at everything I set myself to do. The effort it may take me to do so—I thought—may vary, but I will definitely get what I want. This provided me with a peace of mind that just couldn’t be broken. When I failed, I was certain I would get it next time.

As peacebuilders, it is essential that we maintain trust in ourselves. When dealing with conflict, it is very easy to become stressed or anguished about the situation: our actions can significantly impact the future of a relationship. However, if we trust our capacity to deal with difficult situations, there is no longer a reason to be stressed—we know that the situation will turn out positively and, therefore, we should not worry about it. In theory, it sounds perfect; bringing this mindset to practice, however, requires some effort.

I’ve found that mindfulness works for maintaining an internal dialogue that puts things into perspective and makes me calmer. I hope it can help you as well. Hearing that word may bring an image of monks to your mind, but meditation doesn’t necessarily have to be your source of mindfulness.

Staying grounded can come from a variety of sources—going for a walk, working out or listening to your favorite type of music are just a few examples. As someone once told me: “One mindful breath is enough; everything else is luxury.” Trust yourself and the results will follow. ²

Throughout his childhood, Salvador Guerrero developed multiple interests. Often finding himself in academic competitions, he also explored the beauty of mental and physical sports. He attributes this to three things: growth mentality, sufficient economic resources, and practicing good sleep. A combination of unlikely events led him to apply to UWC: an opportunity that he deems humbling and life-changing. Salvador now dedicates his efforts to ensuring others have the same educational opportunities he enjoyed. Believing education is key to overcoming sociopolitical challenges in Latin America, he co-founded a Honduran student-led non-profit organization that unites students from all parts of Honduras.