At first glance it is impossible not to notice his physical condition due to the fact that he was born with congenital multiple Arthrogryposis. But this has not prevented Victor from fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional in what he loves so much: agronomy; he has also been one of the best students in his class and has also been a member of the student leadership of the UTEQ.

García says that in order to study in Ecuador he applied for a comprehensive scholarship programme offered by Senescyt, from which he was selected to study at any of the universities in our country. "I like the countryside, my whole family is dedicated to agriculture and it is something I have learned along with them, so I decided to look for a career in which I could acquire knowledge in this area, and that is how I found UTEQ, a university with a great history and a specialist in agricultural and farming issues".

What do you like about the Agronomy degree?

It is a career with a future, social and humanistic, because you contribute to society in terms of providing food for families, from the countryside to the big cities. I like it because with the right technical support this career is very useful for feeding society and for me as a professional from an economic point of view.

Do you think your physical condition limits you in your professional career?

I am aware that I have many physical limitations, but I also know that there are ways to overcome them. I grew up in the countryside and I am used to working there. Besides, I think that in life you will always have obstacles to face and that's what life is all about: finding solutions to problems. In reality, I don't see any limitations in being able to pursue my professional career, as often the only barriers that prevent us from achieving our goals are mental ones. I know many people with all kinds of disabilities who have managed to be very successful and that is because they have been confident in themselves and have managed to achieve it.

Have you experienced any discrimination within the university?

No, fortunately not. On the contrary, I consider that I have made very good friends and I have had a lot of support from my colleagues, teachers and staff of the institution.

Did you have easy access to the classrooms and laboratories at UTEQ?

Yes, on both campuses I had easy access to classrooms and laboratories. In the first years I was offered to stay in a ground floor classroom, but I always liked challenges and I preferred to push myself, leave the comfort and climb the stairs. As far as inclusive spaces with ramps are concerned, UTEQ has them, which means that it thinks about people with motor disabilities.

What are your aspirations now that you are a professional?

I would like to stay in Ecuador for a while, do a master's degree and then a doctorate. To have a company to work and give work and help more people with special conditions.

A message to the utequsinos community

Before being professionals, let's learn to be more human. We all live in different situations, but our desire to grow and improve ourselves will always be the engine that drives us forward. If you see someone who needs help, give it to them, give them a hand, and that will make you more empathetic towards society.

To the young people who go through difficult situations in life, go ahead, let's build a better society; and to the authorities that govern us, make a real inclusion considering people who have different abilities and capacities helping them to achieve their goals. Putting aside the barriers of judging without looking for ways to help. When we start to change that situation we will improve as human beings.

Something that I would like to highlight about the UTEQ is that it has thought about inclusion, every year I have seen how its accesses and ramps have improved, thinking precisely about people with motor disabilities. I am grateful to this beloved university in Quevedo that opened the doors to knowledge and self-improvement, to its authorities, to the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and to all the teachers for giving me their teachings and for making this institution one of the best in Ecuador.