“One always returns to the place where one was happy.”
Ambar Katherine Pazmiño Villafuerte, receptionist
Who am I?
I believe I’m a very normal and ordinary person, just like most people.
At this moment, I am 27 years old. Thanks to the efforts of my parents and brothers, I graduated as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the State University of Milagro.
Academically, I obtained a degree in Auditing and am currently pursuing a master’s in Human Talent. This master’s program is very important to me because I’ve always been interested in the human aspect of a company or institution.
Still, academically speaking, I would love to earn a PhD in Financial Taxation—I think that would be the final point of my academic journey.
I am the middle child in a family of three: my older brother, myself, and my younger brother. My entire family comes from Milagro-Guayaquil, but due to my parents’ work, we lived for a long time in Puerto el Carmen (where we still are). That’s where I grew up and attended both elementary and high school. Interestingly, my old school—where I graduated—was later converted into San Miguel Hospital. This perfectly fits the saying, “One always returns to the place where one was happy.”
Looking back a few years, I’d say my childhood was quite special. I grew up playing with friends and was involved for years in basketball and soccer clubs, where I excelled.
What set me apart, however, was that I was also active in the Catholic Church. I was the coordinator of the missionary youth group, participated in youth groups, and even traveled to other cities on their behalf.
After graduating from high school, I did a year of volunteer work for the Catholic Church. I was assigned to the city of Guayaquil-Guasmo. After completing that year of service, I began my university studies.
During my time at university, I met many people who helped me and helped me grow intellectually. My study group was amazing and very competitive. That’s where I met my friend Evelyn—a very honest person and a great leader.
Today, she is my best friend. It’s also worth mentioning that I was part of the university’s women’s soccer team from the very first semester, where I always stood out as the top scorer in every tournament.
Currently, I work for the Quina Care Ecuador Foundation at the “San Miguel Hospital,” located in Sucumbíos–Putumayo–Puerto el Carmen. My role at the hospital is receptionist: I am the first and last person patients see when they arrive and leave. That’s why I always try to do my best so that patients feel comfortable and leave with a good impression—of both the hospital and everyone who works there.
How I came to work at the hospital is quite a story. At the time, I was in Guayaquil looking for a job, and I came across a vacancy that I decided to apply for. I missed the first interview because the confirmation email ended up in my spam folder. Then I got a second chance, but by that time internal problems in the country had led to road closures. During the trip, the bus also broke down, turning what should have been a 19-hour journey into a 27-hour one. It was incredibly hard! But from that moment on, everything turned out well.
I had the interview, and apparently I made a good impression on the doctors because I got the job as receptionist. I feel truly at home there—the team at the hospital is made up of unique people, and everyone brings something special. I’ve grown both personally and professionally, and I’m very grateful for the opportunities I keep receiving.
In summary: Who am I?
I’m someone who’s always willing to help wherever I can. I love learning new things, I’m very curious, and I learn quickly—these traits have always helped me wherever I go. I love animals very much. Right now, I have a cat named Batman and a little dog named Luna. And these words make up the personality of Ambar Katherine Pazmiño Villafuerte.
Ambar