Moving Forward A Collection of Essays by Florida’s Adult Learners Copyright 2017 Florida Literacy Coalition, Inc. Established in 1985, the Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) promotes, supports, and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in the state of Florida. As a 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. Florida’s Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center 235 Maitland Ave. S, Suite 102 Maitland, FL 32751 Phone: (407) 246-7110 Fax: (407) 246-7104 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. Thanks to the following individuals for reviewing and editing the essays: Karina Jimenez (Editor) Nicole Caban Heather Hepler Surrency Wesley Pratt Greg Smith Ethan Smith Special thanks to 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, ESOL, literacy, 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. As always, the editorial committee has chosen to minimize the editing of submissions, and therefore entries in the book appear largely as they were received. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Literacy Coalition or any other affiliated organization. We congratulate the authors who contributed to this year’s publication and hope you enjoy reading and learning about their journeys. Table of Contents My Experience in Adult Education My ESOL Experience M. Velazquez 1 My Best Journey Learning English M. Justiniano 2 My Experience in Adult Education V. Kogan 3 Path to an Education R. Sebastian 4 Adult Education A. Holscher 5 Now I Know It’s All Worth My Effort C. Martinez 6 Personal Success H. Jean 7 My New Experience in My New Life L. Sanabria 8 Thank You D. Juarez 9 Keep On Trying D. Menserou 9 I Am Glad I Found West Area F. Landrin 10 How to Speak a New Language C. Escobar 11 My Experience in Adult Education C. Woodstock 12 Never Too Late to Get an Education M. Avelar 13 My Journey to the GED H. Wodtke 14 My Days in School A. Romero 15 The Will Power M. Limam 16 A Turning Point In My Life Between North and South M. Miley 18 A New Chapter in My Life Z. Sierra 19 An Unexpected Journey Y. Avalos 19 My Mistakes T. Oblescuk 20 Being Different can be a Challenge S. Hembree 22 Looking Back and Moving Forward R. Colbert 23 Opportunities Missed L. Whitaker 24 My Changes R. Williams 25 My Turning Point A. Juma 26 Once You Move A. Khadakova 27 Becoming a Mother A. Lainez 28 A Better Me A. Romero 29 Loving Me L. Rivers 30 A Turning Point in My Life C. Santa 31 Positive Changes H. Thomas 32 Turning to Success E. Butler 33 How Prison Changed My Life C. Pribble 34 A Turning Point in My Life C. Ogando 34 A Turning Point in My Life C. Heflin 35 My Daughter, My Hero B. Boyd 36 Never Too Late M. Prophete 37 My Turning Point M. Lyles 38 Being a Stranger D. Bonilla 39 My Pathway A. Gomez 39 My First Time Off of My Island M. Charriez 40 Experience the Love of God Y. Ramos 40 The Magic Moment that Changed My Life M. Gadea 42 Tuesday, January 12, 2010 G. Gedeus 43 An Encounter That Changed My Life The Worst Traumatic Experience I Ever Had M. Branham 45 An Encounter that Changed My Life R. Meszarosne 46 Overcoming Obstacles M. Christman 46 News that Changed My Life M. Rodriguez 47 An Encounter That Changed My Life X. Azevedo 48 A Fresh Start J. Ruiz 49 The Importance of English D. Chavez 49 An Encounter that Changed My Life K. Angueira 50 Passport for Myself B. Ramirez 51 Gladly Blessed N. O. 52 An Encounter that Changed My Life Z. Poveda 54 My Goals and Ambitions Challenges M. Rondon 55 Career Goals R. Gonzalez 56 My Saudade (What I miss most) V. Rocha 56 Fight for your Dreams M. Bautista 57 All the Things I’d Like to Be S. Louis 58 A Challenge to Be Met Y. Pierre-Clerdora 60 My Goals and Ambitions N. Gonzalez 61 My Goals and Ambitions T. Bailey 62 A Change In My Goals and Ambitions S. Charles 63 My Goals and Ambitions M. Cesar 63 My Existential Crisis A. Galvez 64 My American Dream A. Peruzzi 65 My Goals in Life A. Soliz 67 My Goals and Ambitions L. Johnson 68 Moving Forward J. Baptiste 69 “Can You Please Page Nurse Jean?” L. Jean 70 My Future Self I. Ortiz 71 My Goals and Ambition I. Anariva 72 A Secret Goal L. Cruz 73 My Professional and Personal Goals J. Naranjo 74 Leading by Example J. Luna 75 LiYanGao L. Gao 75 Make Yourself What You Want To Be F. Etienne 76 Special Goals for Me K. Venkitasamy 77 Staying Focused B. Martinez 78 My Goals and Ambitions L. Morgan 79 Keep Following your Dreams B. Herrera 80 I Need a Miracle J. Cenat 81 My Personal Goal S. Tinoco 81 Preparing For My Future A. Lopez 82 Pursuit of Happiness Anonymous 83 I Want to Have a Better Life N. Thevenin 84 Not So Far From Now J. Matute 84 My Favorite Day Gardening: My Favorite Kind of Day W. Holley 86 A Day of Peace R. Tajiani 87 Let Every Day be Sunday Z. Cedieu 88 My Traditional Christmas R. Aguirre 88 Fire, Crackle, and Pop! R. Fils-Aime 89 Christmas, My Favorite Day A. Grave 90 Together on Sunday A. Didley 90 My Favorite Day C. Hernandez 91 Thanksgiving Holiday D. Vallon 93 A Month Long Christmas I. Torres Leon 94 Best Birthday Ever E. Charles 94 My Daughter’s Birthday E. Rey 95 Family Time P. Etienne 95 Saturday is Coming Soon C. Garibay 96 My Favorite Place Wonderful and Unforgettable Memories N. Cime’Chan 97 A Magical Town S. Primero 98 Odessa, Ukraine - My Sweet Home V. Colozzo 99 The Beach Is My Happy Place S. Nehmer 101 Uncle Ashley’s House Z. Kaehler 102 Home Is Where the Heart Is N. Dervil 103 Colombia: A Great Place P. Granada 104 No Place Like Home T. Hernandez 105 The Beach Is Special to Me H. Carny 106 Alaska: a Great Place A. Vidal 106 My Fortress R. Assouman 107 The Overview of City Moles Saint Nicolas M. Dorcely 108 A Place You Will Never Forget L. Nova 109 Cold Chicago Breeze J. Rivera 110 Liancourt, Haiti - My Favorite Place E. Francois 111 In the Kitchen G. Louis 112 My Favorite Place C. Pierre 112 Crazy and Beautiful: Buenos Aires C. Guzman 113 The Citadel Laferriere R. Similcar 114 Relaxing in My Living Room K. Juanusheske 115 My Special Place Anonymous 116 El Avila National Park E. Martinez 116 Why Voting is Important to Me The Importance of Voting V. Saint Louis 118 Why Voting is Important to Us P. Cray, J. Butler B. Cliatt, E. Sealy 119 Democracy - The Right to Vote J. Junqueira 120 Vote, It’s Your Right! C. Andrix 120 Vote! It Is Your Duty! R. Saenz 121 Your Vote Counts T. Pichardo 121 How Life in My Home Country Differs From Life in the US My Transformation from Colombia to the United States W. Torres 123 Life in Guatemala and the U.S. V. Martin 123 Better Choices V. Vilela 125 Lifestyles J. Laguerre 126 More Rights, Possibilities and Opportunities B. Charles 127 One Man with Two Countries L. Ocampo 127 Puerto Rico L. Pena 129 A Tale of Two Lives E. Sealy 129 Secured Life and Brighter Future E. Saint Germain 130 From One Day to Another C. Ascencio 131 The United States: My New Hometown C. Bucknor 132 Sister, Could You Give Me Some Advice? C. Figueroa 133 Proudly Colombian C. Gomez Franco 135 From Guatemala to the USA S. Santiago 136 My Jamaica and My United States of America A. Morgan 137 A New Beginning A. Vazquez 138 Someone or Something I Admire The Most Influential Person in My Life Z. Carbajal 139 Sister, Sister N. Lopez 139 Someone Who I Admire T. King-Roberts 140 My Dad O. Olivo 141 A Day in the Life of a Cowgirl S. Samet 142 Father Figure W. Thomas 143 The First Person Who Influenced My Life A. Joseph 144 A Special Person in My Life H. Le 145 Pay it Forward H. Cabrera 145 The Road to the Olympic Games L. Hinse 146 My Father – A Legacy E. Matera 148 Someone I Admire L. Lopez 148 A Small Woman with a Bigger Heart C. Tzarax 149 My Mother X. Chen 150 My Parents’ Sacrifice D. Sierra 151 My Hero B.