Who knew that a mandatory Microsoft Excel class could lead to the world stage? Carmina Solares, a 17-year-old from Guatemala, was just as surprised as anyone. Her story shows the power of family support, self-confidence, and how “boring” subjects can dramatically change lives.
Read on to revisit Carmina’s captivating journey on how taking a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification led her to the and being featured in the Spreadsheet Champions documentary.
Who is Carmina?
JVIDÊÓƵ: Carmina, we’re so excited to have you representing Guatemala here today. Thanks for agreeing to share your experiences with us.
Carmina: Thank you for having me. It’s such a pleasure to be here.
JVIDÊÓƵ: Before we dive into your story and your experience at the MOS Championship, let’s get to know you a bit. Tell us more about Carmina.
Carmina: Of course! My name is Carmina Solares and I’m a 17-year-old living here in Guatemala. Currently I’m in college studying mechatronic engineering . When I’m not in school, I love spending time with my parents and siblings, and friends too. I’m very competitive, so I love playing video games and board games. But don’t try to get me into anything with sports. I’m not athletic and learned that the hard way.
JVIDÊÓƵ: Well, we know you found an outlet for your competitive energy in the MOS Championship, which we’ll talk about shortly. First, I wanted to talk about your college experience. Mechatronic engineering sounds amazing! Have you always been interested in STEM and technology?
Carmina: I think so. For as long as I can remember, I've been curious about how things work. Didn’t matter if it was something technological or just a machine. With other hobbies, I would be really engaged for a couple weeks and then lose interest. But I kept coming back to technology and engineering. My family saw how engaged I was, and they were super supportive.
Ready to Excel?
JVIDÊÓƵ: That’s incredible. That support makes such a difference in your long-term success, and we know they’ve been supportive of your journey with certification. We first got to know you because you had such stunning results in the MOS Championship, after earning your . Was Microsoft Excel certification always something you were interested in?
Carmina: It actually wasn't something that I chose; my school required all students to get certified in all the Microsoft Office applications. When we got to Excel, I thought it was going to be boring. I didn't really want to do it at first. Once I started learning more, I realized how much I love Excel. I can literally do anything with Excel. I think my friends are getting sick of me talking about it at this point.
JVIDÊÓƵ: You found a passion! And that carried you all the way through to the MOS World Championship. Were you excited about competing?
Carmina: I didn’t know about the competition at first. I earned my MOS Excel certification in 2022, and my computer teacher told me that I’d earned one of the highest scores in the country and asked if I wanted to attend the national championship. I struggle with my self-confidence, so I really wondered if I was good enough to compete. But my parents were very supportive and said they would be proud no matter the results.
I went to the national competition, and didn’t expect anything to come of it. I was sure that I wasn’t going to place. I kept telling my family that there was no point in going to the awards ceremony because I knew I wouldn’t place. Thankfully they made me go. When they called my name as the first-place winner, I thought, “There must be another girl named Carmina.” My teacher was thrilled, “That’s you! That’s you! You got first place!” I couldn’t believe that I was going to be flying to the United States to compete in the MOS World Championship.
Champion and documentary star
JVIDÊÓƵ: We’re so glad your family pushed you! They saw something special in you when you doubted. And they weren’t the only ones. GoodThing Productions, who shot , also saw something special in you and asked you to be part of their full-length documentary. What was that experience like?
Carmina: I still can't even believe that I'm in a documentary. It was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At first, I felt a bit awkward, wondered what to do with my hands and if I looked good on camera. But once I started getting the hang of the whole situation with the cameras and everything, I was having fun. I just really wanted people to see the real me, not just my interest in Excel.
Empowering students in STEM
JVIDÊÓƵ: The documentary was great at showing you as a whole person. However, the documentary has only captured a part of your journey. You have so much more ahead of you. Reflecting on your experiences, how do you think participating in the competition and starring in the documentary will impact you as you move into your STEM career?
Carmina: I think it has changed how I see myself. I realized that I need to start believing in myself a little more. If someone said, before all of this happened, that I would get seventh place in the MOS World Championship, I would have laughed in their face. I wouldn’t have believed it.
Since competing, I've had students from my school reach out and say that they want to compete as well. They want to know what I did and how they can prepare. I'm happy to share this awesome experience and inspire people going forward.
JVIDÊÓƵ: Let’s talk more about inspiring others. What advice would you share with students out there?
Carmina: Try things, even if it seems weird. Often what makes you stand out is something that you might be scared to show. Let others see your hidden talents. And also remember, you don’t have to be the best at something right away. Go after your interests and passions and just have fun.
JVIDÊÓƵ: I love that advice. What tips would you offer our educators?
Carmina: My advice for teachers is to keep encouraging your students. My teachers saw something in me that I didn’t. They pushed me when I doubted myself, and I wouldn’t be here without them. Help your students discover where they can excel. That kind of support really changes lives.
Want to hear even more about Carmina’s experience? Get all the Spreadsheet Champions documentary details .