On November 1, 2018, learners and tutors volunteered to speak about their experience with the literacy program in support of one of our grant applications.  This is Maribet’s speech from that night.  Enjoy!

“Hello Everyone, 

Welcome to our Oak View Branch Library. I hope you enjoy this wonderful day and continue to enjoy.

It’s an honor to stand here in front of you and at the same time, a challenge for me to say these words in English.  My name is Maribet.  I am married and God blessed me with a son.  He is seven years old and my son is the reason I decided to come to the library and learn English.

Why my son is the reason?  I said to myself my son is growing up.  He is going to speak English and I want to understand what he says.  When my son started kindergarten, the homework they gave him should have been simple for an adult to be able to help him but I could not help him.  Not because I didn’t want to help him, but I didn’t understand what he needed to do.  And my son realized that I didn’t know English.  He asked me “Mami, why do you not understand English, didn’t you go to school?”

I felt very sad but it was my reality at that time.  For me, it was difficult for everything.  At work, for my son appointments with his doctor, when I go out to eat… how to order the food?

I was afraid when people heard me speak English, maybe they laugh at me.

I still do not speak English well but now everything changed thanks to the programs that we have in our library.  I am happy to learn English.  I feel comfortable when I go to see doctor with my son, when I go to the grocery store.  I can read with my son.

I want to say thank you to all the people who donate their time.  People like you make a difference all over the world.

Thank you for sharing with us what you have.”

Maribet T.

Hello!  My name is Raquel Guzman.

I’m from Mexico D.F.  I’m married and have one son named Ricardo.  I am happy because in a few months, Ricardo graduates from the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

I am the third of seven sisters and brothers.  My parents are no longer living.  When my father died in 1986, I was 16 years old.  I stopped going to school so I could work and help my mother and brothers.

One of my early jobs was as a seasonal employee for Edible Arrangements.  My job was preparing fruits, decorating and assembling arrangements.

I arrived at the Huntington Beach Central Library in search of conversation classes and then they introduced me to my tutor, Susan, for English and conversation classes.  I needed to communicate in English with people at work, and with my doctors, because I’m a breast cancer survivor.  I was sick for two years.  Breast cancer treatment required 33 chemotherapy and 33 radiation sessions.  I go to an annual check up, but I am now cancer free!

I worked for a few years as a computer instructor teaching basic computer skills to adults at Oak View Library in Huntington Beach.  I also taught basic computer skills where I needed to communicate in English and Spanish to Spanish speaking adults at Ocean View’s Parent Academy in Huntington Beach.

My goals when I first joined the Literacy Volunteers program was to be able to find a better job and buy own Starbucks coffee. I am in English classes and have conversations with my tutor.  We meet at Jack In the Box at 7:30 a.m. on Sundays.  We study by reading magazines and I do workbooks at home.

I enjoy volunteering for the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better Program.”  My duties include teaching cancer patients how to apply makeup, cover their heads with scarves, and look better to improve their self-esteem.

Two years ago, my tutor asked me if I wanted to finish high school.  I had to think twice because I’m very bad at math.  My tutor told me, “You CAN do it!  If you need help or teachers to support you in your subjects, we got it for you.”  I answered, “Okay, you think I can do it?  Then let’s try it and we’ll ACHIEVE it!”…AND I GRADUATED!

On March 16, 2018, I completed all the requirements needed to earn a high school diploma from Smart Horizons – Career Online Education.  I also earned a “General Career Preparation Certificate” as part of the program.  On June 1, 2018, I participated in the first Career Online High School (COHS) graduation ceremony held at Central Library in Huntington Beach.  Many relatives came to the ceremony.  I am the second person out of 7 in my family to earn a high school diploma!

In September, I started working part time for an events staffing company called Britmo.  Recently, they had me work in the VIP tent, by myself, at the Huntington Beach Airshow.  I had to talk to the sponsors and guests in my tent for over 7 hours while enjoying a front row view of the airshow!  I LOVED THIS!

I can now say I am working in a company packing small boxes, I also have my own small business called “Raquel’s Balloon Arches and Decorations,”  I am a business owner and operator, licensed in Huntington Beach, California.  I am a High School Graduate and I am BILINGUAL!

 

I am so thankful for this program because it helped me a lot with my Citizenship test.  I passed it with a score of 100% and now I am really happy that I am a U.S. Citizen.  My teacher is very nice and patient.  My goal now is to get a diploma from high school and I am looking for a new job, too.

Thank you for the literacy program!

Sandra

I am learning English to help my children with homework.

I am learning English to talk to teachers.

I am learning English to find a job.

I am learning English to know what my children are saying.

Mariana

When I was a child like a six or seven years old, I wished with all my heart for a doll with long hair but I thought that was impossible. I asked my mother if she could buy me one but she didn’t want to! I never lost hope and I was thinking how can I get it. My only opportunity to get my doll was that the Wise Men were approaching. Who are the Wise Men? They are like a Santa Claus. So I prayed and I asked them; “I want only one thing with all my heart a doll with long hair”.

The night when the Wise Men were coming was so long and I didn’t want to go to sleep because I was waiting for the Wise Men. Later I fell asleep but I woke up as early as possible. I ran to the Christmas tree to get and comb my doll’s  hair but they didn’t bring me a doll with long hair, they brought me a bald doll. I started to cry and complain about it. “Why did the wise men bring me this bald doll? I promise!! I will never love and believe in them!! I will never forget this big pain in my heart when I got the bald doll. I was very angry and sad and I threw it over the roof. When my mother found out what I did she hit and scolded me and she yelled at me, “Why did you throw it over the roof? Tell me!” With tears in my eyes and broken a heart …. I asked her a question too, “why did the Wise Men bring the doll with long hair to my sisters but not me! Why”? I was crying and I hugged her legs, “please tell me”!!! but she never responded my question. Now I don’t know why she didn’t answer my question because now I know my parents are the Wise Men. Today I don’t have the courage to ask her why she did because she is old and I love her with all my heart.

Many years later, when I got married, I told my husband about it and one day he wanted to surprise me and he gave me a doll with long hair.  He broke my heart and I started to cry again because he made me remember bad memories. Years later, I am the happiest woman in the world because my dream has come true. When I was twenty five years old God gave me a real beautiful baby doll. I will never forget the day that I met her for the first time, I touch her little hands, her little body, her beautiful lips she was so cute and all of her was perfect and fragile. I couldn’t believe that she was a girl because I never knew it during my pregnancy. I started to cry but this time the happiest cry. I talk to her about my story and she knows that she is my beautiful DOLL WITH LONG HAIR.

By Elizabeth Perez

I came to the library to learn English so I can communicate with more people and be open to more opportunities.  Before I started coming to the library, I wasn’t confident in myself.  However, after coming to the library for a few years, I’m not only confident in myself when I speak English but I’m able to help others who don’t know any English at all!  I hope to one day speak English fluently.  I am very thankful for my tutor, Cathy, because she has helped me a lot.

Blanca M.

We have tutor training workshops scheduled for this fall.

Join us!

I am grateful with the Literacy Program because it has helped me learn more English and overall it is helping me obtain my GED.  Thank you to all the personnel and especially the volunteers!

Maria H.

The literacy program helps me to help my daughter and now I read books to my grandchildren.  I use English in my work. I can have conversation with my customers.  My goal is to speak, read and write very well.  When I first came to the program, I could speak no English and now I can talk to people and I have read 12 or more books in English!

Rosa

 

My family moved to the United States five years ago when I was a freshman in high school. Last summer I went back to China for a two month vacation. I looked forward to seeing my family and friends. I especially looked forward to having “real Chinese food!”

Getting to China was so exciting. This is the first time I traveled by myself. Once I got through security I was on my own. I took care of my luggage on my own. When I got to Beijing I had to change planes all by myself. Finally I met my Aunt in my hometown. (I’m not telling you its name because you probably couldn’t say it.)  I felt so proud of myself for getting there on my own.

I found my city had changed a lot. There were better and fancier shopping malls, like South Coast Plaza. I had a lot of fun with my friends going to the shopping mall. Another thing that had changed was my middle school. They had totally rebuilt my school and now it looks really different. I couldn’t go visit because it was summertime and the school was closed.

I spent a good time with my family when I was in China. I really enjoyed my grandma’s cooking. That’s the flavors I remembered from my childhood. She is a really good cook. Now that I’m back in the United States, I really miss the food. Also, my mom came back to China too, after I got there. It was fun having her with me.

I really liked visiting my friend Behing Lin. We have been friends since we were nine years old. I met him whenever we could find time. When we hung out together, we talked a lot and shared food. It made me really happy to spend time with him. One thing he did was to help me out with my mom’s birthday. He delivered flowers to her for me that made my mom so happy. Something else I did was to visit my former singing teacher. I took lessons with her when I was younger in China. It was fun when we sang together at her house again.

During my vacation I learned a surprising skill. I went swimming with my friends and they teased me about looking like a turtle when I was swimming. My head was always out of the water. So I took swimming lessons to learn how to swim right. Now I am helping my friend become better. I really enjoy swimming now and I am so proud of myself.

by Michelle Wang