I was born and raised in a remote village in the mountains. Still, at the age of 18, I live here with my leaf tea producing family.

We have been tea producers for so many years and so many generations have dedicated themselves to the same thing that is already in our genetic code.

I feel that these days have been difficult for me. I am in the middle of a whirlwind of emotions, since a letter arrived with the person in charge of bringing the press from the nearest village, which is 1 km and a half from here. The letter was for me, it said that I was selected to attend university.

According to the csrta, I will be able to have virtual classes and attend the university in the city by the end of each semester to take the final exams. I was happy but you will understand my discouragement, I have to walk 1.5 kilometres a day, while still helping at home with the tea production.

My grandfather, who is the oldest in the family, looked at me with concern and wanted to encourage me. He told me that if it was my goal to study, I should not hesitate for a minute to follow my path to success. I took him at his word and agreed to study.

To connect to the internet I had to go to the cyber café in the village. It was a small place with about 6 computers with broadband and mobile phones were easily connected to communicate with the outside world.

I started classes and it was a difficult first week. I would wake up very early to collect the tea, take a bath at 8am and start my run, I literally had to run because the classes started at 10am.

I would arrive exhausted and I would sit almost exhausted in front of the computer to attend the virtual class. I swear I thought a thousand times about giving it all up and not complicating my mountain life with this university thing.

One morning Alberto, the handsome guy who runs the cyber, was waiting for me with a cup of hot drink. He looked at me and smiled. His words were: this will help you perform better every day.

I was a bit scared. At home we only drink tea. Hot tea to soothe the body and cold tea to refresh the soul, that's what grandma says.

The aroma coming from the cup was delicious. I wanted to preserve that smell in my nose. I approached slowly and as I started the economics class my lips dipped into a mouthful of a sweet, bitter and delicious dark drink. My eyes opened like the full moon and I turned to look for Alberto who stood behind the counter with his mischievous smile. He winked at me and I finished enjoying my drink to the last drop.

When the class was over, I asked him what was this concoction that had filled me with energy and made me feel alive and happy. Alberto laughed and told me: It's called coffee and every morning there will be an extra cup waiting for you for the most beautiful girl in town. I blushed and handed over my empty cup.

I asked Alberto to keep the secret of this motivation that was coming into my life, because my family would not understand why, apart from the fact that I would no longer be involved in tea production, I was also changing to aa.

I returned home looking forward to the next day to go back to my accounting class, see the handsome Alberto and enjoy a delicious cup of steaming coffee.