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My Journey A Collection of Florida’s Adult Learner’s Stories 2006 Copyright 2006 Florida Literacy Coalition Established in 1985, the Florida Literacy Coalition promotes, supports, and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in the state of Florida. As statewide umbrella literacy organization and the host of Florida’s Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center, FLC provides a range of services to support more than 300 adult education, literacy and family literacy providers throughout Florida. Special emphasis is placed on assisting community- based literacy organizations with their training and program development needs. 934 North Magnolia Ave Suite 104 Orlando, FL 32803-3854 Phone: (407) 246-7110 Fax: (407) 246-7104 www.floridaliteracy.org Florida Literacy Hotline (800) 237-5113 This book is dedicated to Florida’s Adult Learners and the teachers, tutors, managers, and programs that support them. Thanks to all the Adult Learners who contributed to this book. Special Thanks to the Florida Literacy Coalition’s Adult Learner Committee: Monica Baxley Erin Balleine Stanford Bowers Brian Jeffries Visinia Uhatese Patricia Williams Monica Yoder Funding for this book was made possible through a generous grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education. Printed in the United Sate of America by NextGeneration Printing. Preface This book was designed to give adult learners the opportunity to build confidence while also improving their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Adult learners enrolled in adult education, literacy, ESOL, and family literacy programs throughout Florida were encouraged to submit essays. The imagination and creativity of these students shines through in their writing, reflecting a range of perspectives and life experiences that are as diverse as the authors themselves. The editorial committee chose to minimize the editing of submissions and therefore entries in the book appear largely as they were received. We congratulate the authors who contributed to this publication and hope you enjoy reading and learning about their journeys. Contents My Life Fanta Cissokho, Choices 1 Leroy Kearse, A Handicap that Did Not… 3 Traci Posey, Recovery 4 Debbie Puterio, Accomplishing My Goals… 5 Michael Perdue, The Three Lives of Michael 7 Roger Hodges, Childhood on Rewind 11 Sandra Navarro, Happy Woman 12 Tyler Bardes, Invisible 12 Christen Houck, My First Memory 14 Cesar Orozco, My Learning Process 15 Libia Espinoza, My Autobiography 17 Ella Valle, Life is Hard 18 Marcelo Morgado, Box of Memories 19 Ana Silvia Paez, Box of Memories 20 Alicia Leon, Autobiography 21 Marisol Casado, How a Trip Can Change Your Life… 22 Luz Bratt, My Life Growing Up in Colombia 23 Delorise Williams, Life Through the Eyes… 27 Anonymous, My Story 30 Marisela Sanchez Richter, The Biggest Treasure 32 Felicia Baxley, A Thank You to Gayle Mann 34 Samuel Jones, Learning to Read at the Age of 59 35 Lexine Curry, A Christmas to Remember 36 S. Bellomy and U. Williams, Learn and Study… 37 Rose Marie Maxwell, My Life in Long Island… 41 Wynelle Mincey, My Life 42 Linda Pummell, My Wasted School Years 44 Jerry Rosenzweig, My Exciting Life 46 Myrna Haughton, Children They are a Blessing 49 Anonymous, My Little World 50 Anonymous, Mi Vida/My Life 52 Elodia Perez, When I was a Child and Now 53 Raquel Roque, Then and Now 54 Marta Uribe, My Life 55 Anonymous, The Story of JJ 56 Kerty Reiterer-Crespo, The Power of Love 57 Susan Klinck, Life with Dyslexia 60 Monica Baxley, What Literacy Has Done for Me 64 My Family Orien Hall, Moving Mom at 92 68 Ruby Payne, A Birthday Surprise 70 Ana Sterling, My Hero is in the Sky 71 Leonardo Luchetta, The Way 72 Anonymous, My Teacher is My Father 73 Maria Da Rocha, My Mom is My Hero 75 Maria Del Socoro Izquierdo, My Loves 76 Angelina Gibbs, My Family 78 Daniela Altamirano, Just a Mother Can do This 79 Nidia Garcia, Happiness 81 Erika Sommerkamp, A Mother with a Moustache 82 Annie Hutchinson, to My Brothers in the Sky 84 Vanesa Villamiel, My Hero 85 Elvira Calderon, Untitled 87 Mayda Gonzalez, My Family and Me 88 Natasa Brnjos, Family 90 My Move to the United States/ My Home Country Elvira Garcia, My Town 93 Anonymous, The Mitch “Mudslide” 96 Luby Arias, My Country, Colombia 97 Amparo Ariza, My Purpose is to Learn… 98 Alejandrina Canil, Living in the USA 99 Qiang Chen, A Stitch in Time Saves Nine 100 Margarita De Jesus, The Importance… 101 Yat Lin De Cicco, What a Wonderful World 102 Marnelle Delucien, How Old is Too Old? 103 Donna Fiddemon, My Story 104 Olexiy Lisin, Be Proud 105 Teresa Milanova, My Reason to Come Here 106 Youngran Mullen, My Journey 108 Anonymous, My Experience… 109 Monica Mejia, My English 110 Eglys Guzman, Being and Immigrant 110 Porfirio Sanchez, Life in a Better Place 111 Amutha Srinivasan, The Most Important Thing… 112 Lourdes Garcia, Our Futures 114 Vilma Chappotin, My Far Away Family 115 Maria Brito, Thanks 117 Estebana de Cruz, The City and the Country 118 Jamila Imperial Gilbert, I Had a Great Weekend 119 Patricia Castrejon, My Life in the USA 120 Juliana Lopez, No Boundaries for the Heart 121 My Salute to My Literacy Program Michelle Albertson, How the Even Start Program… 124 Suzanne Judith Eustache, I was Miserable for Lack… 126 Amanda Lopez, My Life in America 127 Nathanial Pickett, Education 128 Ruth Roman, I Speak About My Life 129 Regina Umizaj, When I Write and Read… 130 Shawana Monique McCoy, Silent Tears 131 Clennon James, Learning to Read and Write 133 David Anzola, A Letter to South West Library 134 Mary Wheeler, A Tribute to My Program 135 David Rodriguez, My First Year 136 Damian Cruz, My First Steps 137 Mary Ann Spear, How the Literacy Program… 138 Thomas Lenor, My Testimony about the Help… 139 Maria Franco, Living in Bonita Springs Florida 140 Ethel Cannedy, My School 142 Ora Lee Brown, How Adult Literacy Has Helped… 144 Wilfrid Guerilus, Life in America 145 My Goals and Ambitions Emilia Sewerynska, My Three Goals 146 Robert Lee Scott, My Three Goals 147 Ji Sun Jan, Thinking About the Future 150 Anonymous, Success 152 Hosea Lewis, Life After Retirement 153 Classie Curtis, The Rugged Road I’ve Traveled 155 Emily Lippert, It’s Never too Late to Get a GED 157 Munira McBride, I am Munira McBride 160 Laura Grier, Why Do I Want My GED 161 Diana Paola Lineburgh, My English Goals 163 Dayami Tano, Reality and Dreams 164 My Hobbies Anna Molibog, The Universe 165 Jiae Lee, My Hobby; Cross-Stitching 167 Alfredo Espinoza, Tennis 168 Edgar La Madrid, Sailing 169 George Park, Dreams 170 Jose Junco, Flamenco is My Passion 171 Martha Cardenas, My Joy to Dance 172 My Thoughts and Opinions Noriko Baba, Spectacular Gold Gate Bridge 176 Marggi Bracamonte, Honor 177 Blanca Rosa Cordoves, My Favorite City, Orlando 179 Wilfrid Guerilus, Life in America 179 Stephanie Jackson, Beautiful 180 Nieves Noule, Let’s Rescue Our Family 181 Natalya Ordubadi, The Color of Friendship 182 Anonymous, Stress 184 Anonymous, The Color Blue 186 Eddie Betties, Will you Help Me to Read? 187 Carmen Kluh, To Be Nice 188 Jose Figuera, Time to Think Over 190 Nuria Perez, Like and Abstract Drawing 191 Hicham Moujahid, Immigration 192 Elenir Mesquita, I Love Miami 195 Raul Benitez, Hero 197 Vanhthavy Boby Oneinh, How I Can Improve… 198 Jillian Turko, Ways to Help Your Marriage Last 200 Dianna Walker, The Biggest Change… 202 Phan Truc May, The Most Important Thing… 204 Anonymous, I Would Recommend… 205 Bonnie Johnson, I Would Recommend… 207 Jessica Alessandrini, Life is Invigorating 209 Anonymous, Happiness in Our Lives 211 RJ Bond, Take That First Step 212 Stanford Bowers, The Most Important Thing… 214 Natasha Tase, Many Things 214 Maryana Rois, Becoming an Adult 216 Phaedra Klinedinst, Sadness in the World 218 Anonymous, Children and Daycare 219 Nely Carmona, From Darkness to Light 221 Barbara Darnell, Three Pieces of Advice 223 Pablo Aguero, Mind Changer 224 Gaby Baglietto, My Hero is John Paul II 226 Elizabeth Leon, Untitled 227 Maria Sweet, Untitled 228 Sandra Pino, Untitled 229 My Spiritual Journey Dea Allen, Free at Last 230 Alice Causseaux, The Cross 231 Merlyn Angel Laane, Jail 232 Evangelia Antoniou, God Father 233 Eleanor Taylor, Your Prayer… 234 Nordian Coombs, A New Believer 235 My Original Story Maria Bergua, Box of Memories 237 Fatos Beeck, Mike and the Lizard 239 Anonymous, A Boy Called Miguelito 242 Allie Roberts, Printella Defy Goodbody 243 Lucia O’Cuerva, The Leprechaun’s Pot O’Gold 246 Marie Vertus, Faith Makes the Day… 250 Sonya Hagan, Golf Course Alive! 253 Anonymous, Beware of the Toe Biter 254 My Poem Roger Ippolito, Working on a Rainbow 259 Anonymous, The Earth In All It’s Beauty 260 Deneyon Griffin, Growing Up in the NeighborHOOD 261 Shaday Campbell, Loving You Hurts 263 Jennifer Benvin, Surfs Up 264 Stephona Reese, Someday 265 Lindsey Kincaid, Hurt 266 Osmara Alvarez, A Poem to Sloppy Writing 267 Index Pablo Aguero 224 Michelle Albertson 124 Jessica Alessandrini 209 Dea Allen 230 Daniela Altamirano 79 Osmara Alvarez 267 Evangelia Antoniou 233 David Anzola 134 Luby Arias 97 Amparo Ariza 98 Noriko Baba 176 Gaby Baglietto 226 Tyler Bardes 12 Felicia Baxley 34 Monica Baxley 64 Fatos Beeck 239 Shinko Bellomy 37 Raul Benitez 197 Maria Bergua 237 Eddie Betties 187 Jennifer Bevin 264 Vanhthavy Boby Oneinh 198 RJ Bond 212 Stanford Bowers 214 Marggi Bracamonte 177 Luz Bratt 23 Maria Brito 117 Natasa Brnjos 90 Ora Lee Brown 144 Elvira Calderon 87 Shaday Campbell 263 Alejandrina Canil 99 Ethel Cannedy 142 Martha Cardenas