The high school years are challenging enough without the added difficulty of adjusting to a new home, culture, and language. But for Brighton Bengal graduate Danny Arroyo, the sacrifice was worth it, and made all the more enjoyable through the universal language of dance. 

Arroyo moved as a teenager to Utah from Costa Rica with his family, and found in ballroom dancing a way to share his culture and connect with others. You don’t need to have the perfect chasse to enjoy the Salsa, Merengue, or Arroyo’s favorite, the Bachata. While teaching his friends Latin moves, Arroyo also picked up a few new moves to add to his repertoire. 

“It’s a really fun way to interact with other people,” he says.

Teachers and staff say Arroyo has embraced all the opportunities Brighton has to offer. He’s been a mentor to his brother who has special needs and also enjoys dance. The Arroyo duo capped Danny’s senior year with a ballroom dance performance at Brighton’s spring concert. 

“It was a really difficult decision to come here,” admits Danny Arroyo, “because I left all of my studies, all of the effort to learn about engineering and such to come here and get a diploma. It was a little complicated learning the language too. Now with graduation, I know all that sacrifice is going to be good for me.”

Arroyo is grateful for his teachers, and their kindness and patience as he navigated a new language and learning environment. Asked what advice he would have for his younger self, he said, never give up. 

“No one said it was going to be easy, but never give up,” he says. “Also be patient because in this life we don’t get all the things we want in the moment, but if you work hard you are going to get it.”

Arroyo is relieved and proud to be crossing the commencement stage.  

“Lo logre. Ya lo vieron. Cuando lo escuchen quiero que sepan que si paso. Entonces aqui estoy,” Arroyo says, which translates to, “I accomplished it, you are seeing it. When you hear it, I want you to know that it happened, so then, here I am.”