At our Graduation Ceremony 2025, we had the great honour of welcoming two exceptional Survaliennes as our guest speakers: Amalia López (Class of 1996, Mexico) and her mother, Amalia Villarreal — a remarkable mother-daughter duo who have both left their mark on Surval in their own unique ways.
Amalia and Mrs. Villarreal have long been devoted ambassadors of Surval. Amalia, now based between Mexico and Spain, continues to be an active part of our community — returning often to lead inspiring jewellery-making workshops and joining us as a chaperone on our South Korea tour. She will soon accompany our girls on the Japan trip, continuing to live her Surval story with purpose, creativity, and connection, all while running her own successful jewellery company, Malia Joyeria.
Mrs. Villarreal’s Surval journey is inspiring. She was sent to Surval by her father, who hoped it would dissuade her from becoming a doctor. True to the spirit of Surval, it had the opposite effect — she returned home more determined than ever to follow her dreams, and went on to become a doctor, proving that empowered young women can achieve anything they set their hearts on.
We are incredibly grateful to Amalia and Mrs. Villarreal for sharing their time, warmth, and wisdom with us. Their presence at Graduation was a beautiful celebration of heritage, aspiration, and the lifelong bond of the Survalienne sisterhood.
Below is the powerful and heartfelt speech delivered by Mrs. Villarreal:
Dear parents, students, directors, friends,
An honour to be here at this beautiful venue on such a special occasion.
We thank you — teachers, staff, directors — for being a very important part of this.
Dear Mrs. Woodhouse, thank you for the opportunity to be here.
I’m a Survalienne. Many years ago, when I told my father I wanted to be a doctor, he said, "Why don’t you go study languages abroad for a year?"
Hmm... Seven years of medical school, rotating residency, fellowship, etc. — maybe I would change my mind.
So I came to Surval, and I was sitting just where you are.
And many years later, I sat there again — as a parent.
So I speak words of experience. No AI here.
Surval is unique in its essence.
It is a “safe place” where girls come together from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, beliefs.
But country, family, and friends are left far behind.
You are nobody’s daughter or sister — you face a new life.
And as we have heard — with excitement, and a bit of fear — but now, you are on your own. Far from home.
And every day is a challenge.
You are brave — to be who you really are, and to discover the resources and gifts you were created with.
Why do I say Surval is a safe place where you can thrive?
Because here, you can be who you are — appreciated, valued, cared for.
You are important.
And you learn something that will help you grow for the rest of your life.
You have the opportunity to connect with other people — out of necessity.
Because we were created to connect.
We are wired to respond to others.
We have advanced countries prohibiting iPhones and iPads — and I don’t know what else — until the age of 16.
In recent functional magnetic resonance studies, we have found computer games do not create real connections in the brain.
We bond out of necessity and create a family — because it is our natural instinct.
We thrive in families.
And you have learned the ability to connect at the deepest level, where you find the same needs in every person — to be loved, appreciated, and valued.
Thank you, all of Surval, because you are the essence.
Every bonjour in the morning, every smile, every word — helps create this safe space, where these young women can be themselves, bring out the best in them, become who they were created to be.
And you can take that safe space in your hearts, dear Survaliennes.
You are brave. You are important. You are loved.
Parents, you have entrusted your most precious treasure — the minds and hearts of your future generation.
The world out there is unkind, and the road ahead bumpy.
From the bottom of my heart ❤️, my generation thanks all of you for giving us hope.
For I know that wherever each one of you goes, your light will shine — and it will be a better place.