Going Places

260 Pages·2016·0.67 MB·English

Going Places
A Collection of Essays by Florida’s Adult Learners
Copyright 2016
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: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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.
Thanks to the following individuals for reviewing
and editing essays:
Lucianna Ramos (Editor)
Nicole Caban
Catherine Hearing
Anne Desmornes
Wesley Pratt
Greg Smith
Ethan Smith
We would also like to thank Corey Alexander for designing
the essay book cover.
This book was made possible throuh 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
experienes that are as fiverse 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. The views expressed in this publication
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Literacy
Coalition or any other affiliated organizations.
We congratulate the authors who contributed to this year’s
publication and hope you enjoy reading and learning about
their journey.
Table of Contents
My Experience in Adult Education
One Step Closer to My
Professional Goals V. Basile 1
Learning Something Every Day R. Saenz 2
New Life, New Experiences &
New Friends G. Marrero 3
It’s Never Too Late M. Vancleve 3
A Big Step in My Life M. Diaz 5
My School Time K. Li 5
Friendship Never Ends T. Lam 6
The Schools in My Life A. Molnar 7
My Experience in Adult and
Literacy Education M. Corriolan 8
My Experience in Adult and
Literacy Education S. An 9
It’s Never Too Late to Learn E. Ciara 10
Be Patient to Reach Your Goal A. Vilfrant 11
A Turning Point in My Life
A Life Changing Event H. Beers 13
Changing My Life J. Gonzalez 14
Precious Moments S. Fowler 15
My Working Life M. Kelly 16
A Conversation with Me! F. Hernandez 17
Something that Changed My Life A. Lemon 17
Life is Tough but I’m Tougher T. Oliva 19
My Turning Point S. Smithson 19
A Turning Point in My Life Anonymous 21
Miguel Alejandro M. Armando 22
Cowboy Up!! C. Hislop 23
Coming to America S. Stewart 24
Climbing the Stairway in the
Journey to Success D. Zajac 25
The Miracle of Life D. Jankowski 26
There is no Limit K. Roney 27
Haiting Carnival: Puzzling
Folkways C. Bazile 28
Controlling My Destiny L. Snyder 29
The Most Difficult Decision of My
Life M. Gonzalez 30
A Little About Me M. Rivera 31
My Hero is Real S. Melendez 32
My Turning Point A. Martinez 33
My Most Recent Turning Point N. Vazquez 34
How it All Began E. Bertrand 35
A Turning Point in My Life D. Groberio 36
A Turning Point in My Life D. Moore 37
I’ve Learned A Lot M. Desouvre 38
My Life Changed When I Came to
the U.S. J. Joseph 39
The Courage to Start Over K. Vernet 40
My Goals and Ambitions
The Importance of Setting Goals M. Fuentes 42
Be Happy N. Martinez 42
What I Would Like to Be S. Joseph 43
My Goals and Ambitions T. Olade 44
You Can Reach Your Big Dream J. Robles 45
Knowledge is Power S. Rodriguez 45
Time for Action! A. Vawny 46
My Dreams Come True M. Accime 47
Opening a Door in My Life S. Alfaro 48
My Dream in Life S. Andre 48
Reaching My Goal J. Benjamin 49
One Day I Will... I. Bernal 50
Don’t Let Go R. Cordoba 51
Ask, Seek, Knock R. Desroches 52
My Life and Goals R. Dorius 52
That Others May Live D. Frietze 53
The American Dream D. Johnson 54
GED: My Dream K. Patterson 55
My GED L. Levatte-Church 56
Education is Important K. Land 57
I Will Achieve S. Luc 58
My Three Goals M. Perez 58
My Three Golden Goals R. Rene 59
Sweet Goals G. Rivera 59
My Goals and Ambitions O. Servius 60
My Green Vocational Academy M. White 61
My Future R. Alexander 62
My Goal D. Thacker 63
My Goals and Ambitions L. Lopes 64
Don’t You Feel Successful? C. Rincon 65
The Challenge to Succeed C. Mena 66
My Favorite Place
The Ocean and Me A. Castellanos 68
My Powerful Garden S. Byrnes 69
The Country I Love O. Goldsmith 70
Grandma’s House M. Crespo 71
My Journey Out West I. Orozco 71
Peace and Tranquility A. Navaez 73
My Favorite Place N. Rivera 73
Watch Them Grow H. Benitez 74
My Favorite Place P. Jiang 74
The Florida Keys Anonymous 75
300 Days of Sun and Shine K. Kitagawa 76
Night of the Little Candles L. Mendoza 78
Music School L. Echevarria 78
Houston, Texas L. Santiago 79
Big City R. Pierre 80
Untitled L. Tarantino 80
A House Outside the City E. Garcia 81
Priceless but Free! E. Magalhaes 82
Cape Cod A. Eldridge 83
The Pearl of the Caribbean J. Persaud 84
Welcome to Coco Keys S. Nelson 85
My Favorite Place T. Weller 86
Washington D.C. V. Unpierre 87
Jamaica, My Favorite Place V. Cole 89
Belize: Precious and Beautiful L. Pech 90
Why Voting is Important to Me
Why is Voting Important to Me M. Joharchi 91
I Will Be a Voter M. McNaughton 92
You Decide A. Colon 93
Why Voting is Important to Me G. Saraceni 93
Each Vote Counts N. Damis 94
A Good Candidate Inspires J. Laguerre 94
How Life in My Home Country Differs
from Life in the U.S.
A Different Life T. Francis 96
Colombia: The Happiest Country
in the World C. Gomez 97
Holidays in Haiti W. Joseph 98
A Different Country A. Joseph 99
Going Through Change D. Dominique 100
Two Different Lives N. Osorio 101
How Life in My Home Country
Differs from Life in the U.S. S. Pelenci 102
My Life Vs. My Son’s Life R. Ron 103
How Life in My Hone Country
Differs from Life in the U.S. A. Macha 104
Not Afraid of the Uncertainty S. Trampuz 105
How Life in My Country Differs
from Life in the U.S. N. Pena 106
No Perfect Place O. Chavarria 107
How Life in My Homes Country
Differs from Life in the U.S. B. Sebastian S. 108
Someone or Something I Admire
Press Toward the Mark T. Lockley 110
Priscilla of Corquin K. Romero 111
My Mom K. Louis-Juste 112
A Parent’s Strength C. Rendon 113
Someone Who Inspires Me J. Lanham 115
My Amazing Sister M. Rodriguez 116
Women in Science H. Loretto 116
One Main Lady T. Chatman 118
One of a Kind W. Tranquille 119
Basketball F. Romero 119
Someone I Admire V. Kogan 120
The Person I Admire the Most S. Grams 121
She’s Number One in My Eyes B. Beckham 123
Omila Jecroix S. Valeus 123
My Only Savior M. Cineus 124
My Mother: A Warrior R. Vega 124
Her Name is Love R. Marquez 125
My Lovely Wife R. Tajiani 126
My Mentor Who Inspires Me R. Chonay 127
Jose Ramon Lopez: The Most
Inspirational Person in My Life N. Martinez Lopez 127
My Father: My Role-Model A. Lara 129
My Exceptional Role Model A. May 130
My Dad M. Rodriguez 131
Luck Supports the Brave T. Ahmar 132
My Role Model: Bruce Lee B. Jewell 133
Someone I Admire K. Johnson 134
Love Can Do That T. Lima 135
My Dad A. Coello 136
Someone I Admire S. Bennett 136
My Son Stevenson E. Pascal 137
What the American Dream Means to Me
My Great American Dream S. Barcenas 138
The American Dream K. Archibald 138
My Life Dreams in America J. Hyacinthe 139
A Dream Come True I. Lipkey 140
The American Dream: My Life in
the U.S. I. Villalobos 142
The Beauty of a Dream C. Arencibia 142
The Peoples’ American Dream:
Thousands of Opportunities in
the Land of the Free K. Bryant 143
Sis Louis Restaurant M. Louis 144
Personal Story
Special Kid has a Special Mom A. Mendoza 145
Life Changing Experience C. Louis 146
Going to the Special Olympics K. Rouse 147
My Nightmare L. Garou 147
My Difficult Obstacles C. Martinez 148
Soulmate C. Matarazzo 149
My Arrival in the USA V. Crespo 150
Fight for My Dream C. Tzarax 150
Cooking Brings the Best Out
of Me L. Ervin-Sturgis 151
American Dream J. Belem 152
The True Meaning of
Thanksgiving A. Alegre 153
The Way of Life on My
Grandparents’ Farm J. Bernal 155
Thanks to Life, Which has Given
Me so Much H. Bernuy 156
A Changing Dream M. Constant 157
A Difficult First Year in the U.S. S. Guevara 158
Change of Life M. Islas 160
Anxiety is not a Joke J. Howell 161
Realization of Love L. Montejo 161
Growing Up Without My Mom M. Mora 162
Music in My Life G. Solarte 163
Sports and the Outdoors L. Miranda 165
People, Gestures, Food, and
Animals in America M. Fernandez 165
My Life in the U.S. M. Pierre 166
Life has its Challenges M. Bowman 167
I Never Give Up H. Arias 169
Growing Up in Polk County C. Carrington 169
Love Story R. Guevara 170
Dancing in the Dark H. Dia 172
Never Give Up J. Edwards 173
This is Me J. Monteagudo 174
My Lovely Grandsons G. Villar 175
Never Give Up H. Karimzadeh 176
My Decision M. Montiel 176
Surprise R. Marc 177
Slowly but Surely R. Desrosches 178
Just Quincy and Me P. Sherrod 178
Everyday Life M. Anderson 179
Enjoying Every Moment A. Orellana 180
My Personal Story F. Oliveira 181
My Family F. Espinoza 181
My Family M. Moise 183
My Personal Story S. Castrejon 183
About My Life R. Fortunato 184
I Won’t Complain R. Gabriel 185
The Day My Life Changed... S. Sanchez 186
I Am Blessed B. Moreno 187
Our Love Story A. Trejo 188
Ideas that Guided My Life R. Ortiz 189
Looking for a Better Future E.G.M. 190
Going Through Change D. Dominique 191
My Short Story E. Baten Tum 191
My Story, My Son E. Almaguer 192
My Personal Story T. Taylor 193
You Not Like English, Go to D.R. L. Gomez 194
She K. Sawiki-Cruise 196
A Smaller World Through 197
Language G. Williams
Original Poetry
Life J. Clark 199
For You, My Mom M. Solene 199
Who Am I? D. Mitchell 200
How to Fly K. Cruz 201
A Mother’s Love M. Brady 202
Floating J. Fain 204