Abstract
This text outlines the principal factors that the participants identify as influential in their decisions to pursue an academic career beyond the minimum obligatory level of education. It describes the prevailing conditions in the community of Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico, while demonstrating the way that participants think in relation to their families, school and community. It concludes emphasizing the role of teachers and it calls for a voluntary creation of cooperative networks among schools.

Key words author
Scholastic resilience, life histories, basic education, teachers, academic persistence.

Key words plus
Students - case studies; resilience (personality trait); fundamental education; persistence.

Transference to practice
The most significant findings and lessons are related to the existence of two forces in the academic life of students: the push (part of the student’s personal environment) and the pull (normally part of the school environment). These findings allow us to hypothesize ways that the school can harness its potential in the retention of students. In this sense, it outlines the implications of scholastic management and pedagogical potential of teachers inside and outside of the classroom.