"Young People, There Is Always Hope: After Tears, a Flower Blooms"

Through the Guinda Program and with the participation of writer Iván Cervantes, IPN promotes the importance of mental health

By Claudia Villalobos

A drizzle accompanied dozens of young students arriving at the "Guinda" auditorium of the Center for Centro de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos (CECyT) 3 “Estanislao Ramírez Ruiz.” They paused their academic activities in classrooms, workshops, and laboratories to attend an important session on mental health and suicide prevention.

Wrapped in jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, and caps, the students filled the seats to listen to the life experiences and aspirations of José Iván Cervantes Ibarra, a writer and graduate of CECyT 11 “Luis Enrique Erro.” Cervantes openly shared his emotions and emphasized the need to turn adversity into opportunity and seek help when overwhelmed by personal, family, or academic problems.

The conference, organized as part of the Guinda Program led by the Coordination of Prevention and Safety under the General Secretariat, aimed to encourage students to prioritize mental health. “The absence of mental health leads to poor academic performance, crime, and addiction,” warned Cervantes, author of the book "Del llanto nace una flor" (From Tears, a Flower Blooms).

As the talk progressed, the students settled into their seats, listening attentively and allowing their emotions to surface. At least 10 of them admitted to relating to the suicidal thoughts Cervantes once experienced.

During his first year of high school, Cervantes was a cheerful student who interrupted teachers with jokes, skipped classes, played soccer, and struggled academically. By the third semester, he began sitting at the front of the classroom, reading more, and keeping a journal that eventually turned into a poetry collection. Despite his talent, he faced ridicule from his peers, and financial difficulties added to his struggles.

“One afternoon, I invited my girlfriend over for lunch. My mom and sister were also there. Suddenly, I handed each of them a note. My mom and sister started crying when they read it—it was a goodbye letter saying I wanted to end my life,” he recounted.

With his mother’s support, Cervantes began therapy. His mental health specialist helped him appreciate the small joys in life, recognize that not everyone was against him, and value his family’s efforts to support him. Through this, he learned to be kinder to others and embraced the importance of mental health as a foundation for personal well-being and the pursuit of dreams.

The young writer strongly believes in the critical role of parental involvement in helping adolescents achieve their goals and discover their talents. He emphasizes that with family, school, and community support, young people can focus on developing their abilities and achieving success.

Years later, Cervantes returned to his alma mater, not as a student but as a speaker sharing his life experiences. Now, he also teaches a small creative writing and poetry workshop, helping students channel their emotions through writing.

The atmosphere during the session was filled with camaraderie. Many attendees found themselves relating to Cervantes’ teenage struggles. His youth and authenticity inspired trust, as he offered to listen to anyone in need.

“Young people need this. We must enhance psychological support in IPN schools and remind teachers that schools are the students’ second home, and educators act as their second parents. Being heard can often bring relief and motivation to their daily lives,” Cervantes stressed.

“A psychologist isn’t just for people who are ‘crazy.’ Our generation is increasingly aware that depression, anxiety, and stress are real problems, and it’s okay to seek therapy or psychiatric care because emotional health matters,” he added.

“Don’t bottle up your feelings; seek help. For me, writing became a way to let my emotions flow. Over the past seven years, I’ve written around 300 poems, with the best ones featured in my book Del llanto nace una flor. IPN is full of talent in many areas—let’s ensure that the Polytechnic produces not only engineers, architects, or doctors but also writers,” concluded Cervantes, urging young people to unlock their potential.