From the Highlands to the Classroom: The story of Zinnia Chocontá

Zinnia Chocontá, a graduate in Biology from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, is a clear example of how teacher training can go beyond traditional boundaries to influence diverse settings and transform lives. Her professional path is one of service, resilience, and a profound connection with nature.

Her journey began in some of Colombia’s most complex scenarios, where she worked on demobilization processes in several regions of the country. Drawing on her knowledge of territories such as the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy and Huila, she helped guide the reintegration of former guerrilla combatants. Her commitment to national reconciliation even led her to become part of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), where she served her country during a crucial stage of peacebuilding.

Recently, her unique classroom approach and personal story caught the attention of Hobbies Extraordinarios, an initiative by Casatalento that spotlights inspiring Colombians. Out of thousands of applicants, only 500 were selected to be featured, Zinnia among them, thanks to her tireless efforts to motivate young people to embrace education, the environment, and sports.

Today, her classroom extends well beyond four walls. Based in Suesca, Cundinamarca, Zinnia has found in the crags and cliffs of this natural paradise the perfect place to teach. She practices and teaches rock climbing “in the most environmentally responsible way possible,” as she says, “because my classroom is nature, the mountains, and life itself.”

Through her initiative Amada Montaña (“Beloved Mountain”), which she runs with her son, also a student at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, she teaches not only proper climbing techniques but also ecological awareness, respect for ecosystems, and the importance of moving at nature’s pace.

Yet Zinnia has never lost sight of her roots. “I want to return to the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, my alma mater, to strengthen my skills so that I can continue not only as a teacher but also as a trainer of other teachers,” she explains. She believes that “once students see that the outdoors can be a classroom, we can teach and learn in it and turn sports into a tool for learning.”

Her story is also an open invitation to the university community to immerse itself in the value of outdoor education, sports, and experiences that become vehicles for building peace, strengthening coexistence, and forging a deeper connection with nature.

With her work, Zinnia embodies the mission of education: cultivating peace and equality while creating opportunities for collective transformation. The Universidad Pedagógica Nacional is enriched by stories such as Zinnia’s, which reflect the indelible mark of pedagogical training applied to the construction of a more sustainable country, at peace and conscious of its invaluable natural heritage.