2015 Essay Winners

The Stairway to Success

Essay by Donata Zajac

What is success? I think that this it a difficult question.  Success is not wealth. It is not a beautiful body and fashionable clothes.  In my opinion success is the realization of our dreams and plans. Each of us perceives success differently.  Success is not an elevator.  You must climb the stairs to reach it. 

I was climbing the stairs  but I was making small steps.  Often doors appeared before me which I tried to open.  Behind the doors were very different people.  Some of them were kind and good, but some were not. 

Chester, my husband, stood behind one of these doors.  He was the one who changed my world and brought me from Poland into our a great country.  He urged me to climb my steps on American stairs. It was hard, very hard!!!

I was 55 years old. I was retired and I knew two languages, Polish and Russian. I dreamed of learning English rapidly.

I moved to my husband's home in Pennsylvania.  His house was located in the mountains without  neighbors. I rarely heard English spoken only on television, and in stores. I wanted more. 

After moving to Florida, it was better.  The stairs were still high, but then we met many new friends, English speaking friends.  One of my neighbors invited me to go to the library in Palm Harbor.  That was the biggest step yet.  I found more people with the same problems I had.  The library is active and versatile. It has a broad spectrum of programs for immigrants: conversation classes, lessons with tutors, lending of books, language exercises, and a great computer program called Reading Horizons.  These programs help a lot.  Following the steps I opened another door.  Behind the door there stood my teacher Mary-Ann. She and other teachers were working as volunteers leading a conversation class.  Mary-Ann become my teacher.

I still have more stairs to climb. Learning is difficult for me, I'm older now.  My memory is not as good. But I have the best teacher for all these problems.  She is patient and understanding.  She shows me how to improve my English. She repeats difficult words often, calmly and listens to my speeches. She explains the secrets of English vocabulary. She writes new words on a whiteboard. She teaches me love for my new country. She explains history, geography and politics of the United States. My teacher works with passion and great interest.  When I listen to her, I learn about cooking, fashions, restaurants, and family life etc. She uses different teaching methods. I worked for 30 year as a teacher at school, and today I am a student!!! With my teacher I achieved the next step. I passed my Citizenship Exam. I was very proud of this achievement. Perhaps it was our joint success: Mary's, Chester's and mine. 

Everyday is difficult, but I can read English, shop, and speak the language.  Now it is easier. It is because I met good friends, I have a guide in the process of learning another language. 

English is hard, I know. But I can learn with the help of others and my own work.  I know I will have many more stairs to climb to reach success. I will succeed!!!

Now I'm in Poland with my husband. I'm studying English with Mary on Face Time. This is progress in the XXI century.  This is the next step to success.  Success is learning. It is a treasure that I can take with me wherever I go.

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One Step Closer to My Professional Goals

Viviana Basile

 My stairway to success began on January 14th, 2015 at my first job in the United States; it was in this moment that my professional journey was going to begin. I never thought that my first job was going to be in my field, Human Resources; however I always believed in myself in a humble was and in my capabilities in Spanish and in English. Others believed that I was not able to do certain jobs at that time, because they thought my English was not good enough, but I impressed even myself.

Since I was a little girl, English has been part of my life; at school, at the movies, in music, on the TV.  I was exposed to English, but in my country, Venezuela, I never had the need to speak in English.  I always spoke in Spanish, and for this reason I truly felt I needed a class where I could speak English with others. 

The fact that I already knew some English allowed me to find an administrator job in a good office, even though everybody said that this was something very hard to find, even for U.S Citizens.  Studying English as a second Language at Palm Harbor Library has been incredibly important to me, because it has opened doors for many opportunities in life. 

I had to do everything in English at work on a daily basis.  For example, I had to pick up the phone and at the same time assist walk-in applicants.   I also had to input personal data into the computer and invite applicants over the phone for our interview process, among other things.  This is why the conversational class at the library has been so helpful for me, because "Practice makes perfect".

I am very thankful to the library for this program, to my two supportive tutors Cindy and Bernadette; to Noreen for being Miss Congeniality all the time; to Mary Ann for being so patient and friendly with her students; as well as to all the people that I have met in this class, because they are my new friends now.

My first professional journey was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot of things, and I will never forget my work team: Ina and Tanya who gave me this opportunity without any guarantee of my work ethic and abilities at the beginning; Christina who is like me- friendly and easy-going with the people all the time; Patty who was always available for me when I needed help, and of course Leah, my mentor, who taught me almost everything.  

I felt like Sofia Vergara when I was speaking English at work (HAHA!), but at least I could express myself.  The people always understood me, and I could send the message. I am very proud of myself, for everything that I did and learned. I am in a hew job search right now, because the administrator job was only temporary.  Today, I feel more fluent, confident and less nervous in my job interviews. 

In conclusion, English as a second language has been an excellent tool in my professional journey, and it's the key for a better future and the stairway to success.

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Climbing the Stairway in the Journey to Success. 

Marina Egorova

When you are thinking about being open to everything that surrounds you, about being a little part of something global, do not be afraid of learning. Learn and transform. Learn and understand. Learn and share. When you are thinking about all these things, one word can easily come to your mind- Literacy.

What did literacy give to me? I can tell you without any doubts that for me it is an absolute stairway to success, long and steep stairway because when you find yourself to be a part of a strange environment it is very hard to change everything. You need to be not afraid of learning and asking. Do you know how difficult is it just to admit that here in a foreign country with different language history and traditions you have to start all from the beginning? You find yourself in a school again and you finally understand that there are no limits to the process of recognizing this life and world. So there I started. A new journey where literacy in a very important part. It is such a great happiness to be able to find information in books, being able to process it and share. And it is getting more and more exciting every day. The real success is to be truly involved in this life. Literacy is a part of education and education is a connection between me and the whole world around.

So we know that to climb up somewhere you need to make little steps day by day and just keep moving no matter how difficult it can be sometimes. Do not be afraid to challenge yourself. Even if it looks to much for today it could be not enough for tomorrow. As I already said just keep moving. Life is learning. Literacy is a way to learn . Books are the great helpers and a very important tool in an education process. And just the ability to read write and speak is a great treasure that makes you feel truly part of entire life. I opened an absolutely new world for me so far away from the place where I was born and used to be. And this new wonderful world does not seem to be so easy sometimes. But I found a great support here in a library climbing this stairways to success with all of you. That’s why I can say that literacy is much more than just a word or it is much more than just even a stairway. It is a whole journey and I can feel that the best part is still to come.