Some stories do not fade over time: they grow with us. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince is one: a small book with a big heart. Even 82 years after its publication, its lessons on love, innocence, and the invisible truths of life continue to inspire readers around the world. In this blog, four students from PrepaTec Cuidad Obregón, Mexico, share how this timeless tale continues to shape their view of childhood, imagination, and what truly matters.
A Little Prince so Big He Changed the World
The Little Prince is a children’s novella published in 1943, and even though it’s 82 years old this year, it continues to impact children to this very day. I think we’ve all at least heard of this read, but I didn’t expect a book like this to have such a big impact on my life. What may appear to be a children’s book has become a timeless classic with a powerful life lesson. It blends philosophy, fantasy, and reflections on the meaning of life while exploring loneliness, childhood, love, and responsibility.
The Little Prince is one of those books that seems simple but is actually incredibly wise. On the surface, the story is about a boy from space who visits Earth on a quest to understand the universe. But beneath that, it speaks about life and all its astonishing aspects. It genuinely makes you reflect on things that are often taken for granted or that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The deep themes the author uses are developed delicately and represented beautifully, without overusing or diminishing them.
The story begins when an aviator crashes in the desert and meets a little prince from another planet who asks him to draw a sheep. After several rejected attempts, the prince is finally satisfied with a drawing of a box, which the aviator explains contains the sheep he wanted so much to see. This encounter marks the beginning of a long conversation about the little prince’s life. The book is filled with wholesome and heartwarming stories that leave you feeling fulfilled.
What I love most about this book is that it doesn’t lecture you or make you feel judged. The author finds subtle ways to make you reflect on your own life. He reminds readers of the importance of never losing the spark of imagination, curiosity, and love that defines childhood. Through his adventures, we see from the little prince’s perspective how adults often become trapped in a world of numbers and pride.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writes, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes.” This teaches us that true understanding comes from the heart, not from logic or appearances. Each time this book finds its way to you, you uncover new layers of meaning depending on where you are in life. The Little Prince is a book that grows with you and reminds you that adulthood doesn’t have to mean forgetting—but remembering to see with the heart.
Ana Ligia López Bórquez was born in Tucson, AZ, and is 17 years old. Currently a fifth-semester student at PrepaTec Cuidad Obregón, Mexico, she stands out in academics, athletics, and music. A consistent honor roll student, she also plays on the school’s female soccer team and performs as the drummer in the music club. Beyond school, she enjoys reading, playing Padel, and exercising. As secretary of the student group JOLUM, she helps foster leadership and human connection among teens. Known for her hardworking and kind personality, Ana Ligia also loves the singer José José and cherishes The Little Prince.
Inés Félix Ivich, age 17, was born in Tucson, AZ, and is a fifth-semester student at Tec de Monterrey High School, Campus Ciudad Obregón. She thrives in academic, athletic, and musical settings. A frequent member of the honor roll, she plays on the school’s female soccer team and performs piano in the music club alongside Ligia. Inés is also part of the student group Seprepa, where she contributes to managing finances. Outside school, she enjoys baking, collecting vinyl records, and watching movies. Her peers describe her as sweet and gentle.
Alana Chau Zavala is 17 years old and was born in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico. A fifth-semester student at Tec de Monterrey, she excels in academics and the arts. On the honor roll and an accomplished painter, she has created several murals for her art class. In her free time, Alana enjoys R&B music and medical dramas. As project manager for Ecotec, she works toward making her school more environmentally friendly. Friends and classmates know her as reliable and warm-hearted.
María Julia Corral Báez, born in Ciudad Obregón, is 17 years old and currently in her fifth semester at PrepaTec Cuidad Obregón, Mexico. Distinguished both academically and athletically, she is a regular on the honor roll and one of the main players on the school’s female volleyball team. She also enjoys reading in her spare time.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
