In My Words A Collection of Essays by Florida's Adult Learners Copyright 2011 Florida Literacy Coalition, Inc. 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 the statewide umbrella literacy organization and the hose of Florida's Adult and Family 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 organizations with their training and development needs. Florida's Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center 250 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1110 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 246-7110 Fax: (407) 246-7104 www.floridaliteracy.org Florida Literacy Hotline 1(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 of the adult learners who contributed to this book. Special thanks to the Florida Literacy Coalition's Adult Learner Committee: Marty Finsterbusch Monica Baxley Nelson Pino Treatha Feaster Sonja Johnson Thanks to the Florida Literacy Coalition staff: Quizaira Recio Erin Balleine Naomi Soto Macario Garcia Yari Payne Greg Smith We would also like to thank Corey Alexander for designing the essay book cover. This book was made possible through a grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education 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 editing of submissions and therefore entries in the book appear largely as they as they were received. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Literacy Coalition or other affiliated organizations. We congratulate the authors who contributed to this publication and hope you enjoy reading and learning about their journeys. Table of Contents Experience in Adult Education 1909 Liz Vera Chung 1 How Does Adult Education Help Me Victoria Freckelton 2 My Experience in Adult Education Lucy Gutierrez Lugo 2 Adult Education D. Range 3 My Language Experience Fadime Akdemir 4 Why I Came to Adult Education Joshua Palov 5 My Experience in Adult Education and Literacy Kimberly Thomas 6 My Experience in Adult Education and Literacy Jean Fenold Metellus 6 English Has Become My Primary Language Jackson Joseph 7 The Opportunity of My Life Stephany Pinto 7 My Experience in Adult Education and Literacy Jhonder Vasquez 8 Why I Enrolled in Adult Education Shelby Peloni 8 My New Start Kimberly Richards 9 How My Life Changed Yvensky Lebrun 10 Yes I Can Martha Rosales Davis 11 Reading Changed My Life Dale Eggleston 12 My Educational Experiences Suzanne Ayers 12 Reaching for the Stars Sammie Campbell 13 Learning English Dora Peña 14 A Wonderful Experience. Maria Ferrao 14 Why I Came to Adult Education Luis Perez 15 My Experience in Adult Education and Literacy Jennifer Ebbert 15 Goals and Ambitions My Goals and Ambitions James Holland 17 Just One Phone Call Crystal Grooms 18 My Goals Mandy Mattingly 19 My Goals and Ambitions Ronald Desroches 20 My Life Goal Jonathan McElfresh 21 My Goals and Ambitions MacKendy Libera 22 My Dream Job: Teaching Jigisha Chirag 22 My Goals and Ambitions Jean Brissol Brice 23 One Day Armando Sanchez 24 My Story Leslie White 24 Purpose of life Connie Rojas 25 My Goals and Ambitions Sandra Sansone 26 My Goals and Ambitions Chasity Petit 26 My Goals and Ambitions Angela Wicklow 27 Making My Life Better Jacoby Moore 28 My Goals and Ambitions Ramiro Saenz 29 The Elements of Achievement John Sheriff 29 Pressing on Toward my Goal Shirley Freeney 30 Becoming a Cosmetologist Latorya Wiggins 31 Crystal Bellamy's Future Goal Crystal Bellamy 32 My Journey Statan Burney 32 My Goals and Ambitions Cynthia Sanders 33 My Goals Mirna Francisco 33 My Goals for 2011 Antonine Joseph 34 My Past, My Present, My Future Tulio Torrado 34 My Journey Sierra Caldwell 35 Goal and Ambition Ortiz Victor 36 A Turning Point in My Life A Turning Point in My Life Antonette Cristobal 37 Turning Point in My Life Yeonsuk Won 38 A Turning Point in My Life Ladonya Lamb 39 A Turning Point in My Life Brittany Hays 39 A Turning Point in My Life George Ann Watts 41 A Turning Point in My Life Mia Hamilton 42 A Turning Point in My Life Hector Lopez 42 A Changing Point in My Life Betty Sowers 44 A Turning Point in My Life Martha Fortune 44 My Turning Point Angel Lisuan Garcia 44 A Turning Point In My Life Lina Sanchez 45 A Turning Point In My Life Carmen Socorro Nieves 46 A Turning Point In My Life Walter Christie 47 My Turning Point in Life Ielle Steeg 48 A Turning Point in My Life Diamond McCain 49 My Turning Point Elizabeth Salber 50 A Turning Point In My Life Jacques Mickens 51 When One Door Closes, Another is Opened Kinah Johnson 52 What Education Means to Me What Education Means to Me Sobner Anilus 53 Why I Chose to Become an Adult Education Student Amanda Bennefield 53 What Education Means to Me Berline Jean Charles 54 What Education Means to Me Dana Beck 55 What Education Means to Me Sumei Congelosi 56 What Education Means to Me Glenda Clotter 57 Why I came to the United States Gladys Corral 58 What Learning English Means to Me Marie Jona Desilus 58 What Education Means to Me Josephine Cruz 59 What Education Means to Me James Andre 59 What Learning English Means To Me Lazara Maria Gonzalez 59 My Education Dustin Green 60 Education - A Tool that Opens Doors Jean Nazaire Destine 60 What Education Means to Me Anthony Harris 61 What Education Means to Me Jean Lucman Louis 62 What Learning English Means To Me Rider March 62 What Education Means to Me Dalila Mejia 63 What Education Means to Me Molaine Pierre 63 What education means to me Marie Chantale Plaisir 63 What Learning English Means to Me. Jean Friztner Romilus 64 What Education Means to Me Yovanna Ramos 64 What Education Means to Me Cynthia Reynolds 64 What Education Means to Me Harry Saint Phar 65 What Education Means to Me Ketsie Stewart 66 What Education Means to Me Sharon Thom 67 How Literacy Has Improved Your Life Enisa Alecksic 67 What Education Means to Me Ariana Shaver 68 What Education Means to Me Edouard Jean 69 The Importance of Education and Family Sandra Kirchaine 69 My Life in America is Informal Education Kyung Hwa Kim 70 Education is Powerful Chan B. Kem 70 What Education Means to Me Ana Johnson 71 What Learning to Read and Write in English Means Milta Gracia-Lorea 71 to Me Why I Need My GED Lowanda Fequiere 72 Favorite Place My Favorite Place Giovanni Cousins 74 My Favorite Place Margarita Galvan 75 The Seasons of Bangladesh Swapna Butta 76 Lake Ella Blanche Collins 77 My Favorite Place Danilo Jose Blanco 77 Why I Love the Ozark Mountains Rufus Brooks 78 My Favorite Place Nico Erbella 78 Damascus, My Favorite Place Ikhlas Fregat 79 My Favorite Place Ricky Allen 80 Eastern Island, My Favorite Place Antonio Doblas 80 My Special Place Shawn Alexander 81 My Favorite Place Olga L. Perez 82 My Favorite Place - Honduras Jose Miguel Gavarrete 83 My Favorite Place Theola Hudson 84 My Favorite Place Michelle Gomez 85 My Favorite Place Cheryl Greco 86 My Favorite Place John Garris 87 A Breath of Fresh Air Tammy Miller 88 My Special Place Kushaiah Krow 88 My Favorite Place Tina Walker 89 My Favorite Place Vanessa Gutierrez 90 My favorite place Clayton Montgomery 90 My Favorite Place Caralisa Ratliff 91 My Favorite Place Juergen Hillebrand 92 Vacations to Never Forget Martha R. Scott 93 Black Water River Barbara Ritchie 94 My Favorite Place Natasha Tanner 95 My Favorite Place: Key West Lourdes Maldonado 96 My Favorite Place Levonne Kingsley 97 The Place I Love Divina Pereira 98 My Special Place is the Beach Cynterrika Jenkins 98 Jamaica Mon Eric Whitten 99 How Life in My Home Country Differs from Life in the U.S. My Experience In The United States Celso M. Ayra 100 Mom Knows Best Evaristo Baten 101 Letter to Readers Lenuta Angalita 102 Why I Came to the U.S. Julienne Josaphat 102 How Life in My Country is Different from Life in Marcia Scippio 103 the U.S.A. A Tale of Two Countries Gabby Linearas 105 Why I Came to the U.S.A. Chompunoot Kozach 106 Growing Up in the Philippines Airien Papa 107 How Life at Home is Different from Life in the Owen Smith 108 U.S.A. How Life in My Home Country Differs from Life in Horacio Plata 109 the U.S. Moving to Adulthood in the USA Tetiana Voiteseshko 110 How Life in My Own Country Differs from Life in Peterson Noe 111 the U.S. My Country Sicily Rosa Scilio-Boyland 111 My Dream of Living in America Fusayo Kado 112 How Life at Home Differs from Life in the U.S. Francine Strachan 114 My Life In Haiti Adly Cadet 115 Why I Came to America Carolina Garcia 116 My Country Ivica Kresovljak 117 Why I Came to the USA Yolanda Lucas 118 Why I came to the U.S.