2012 Winning Essays
The Importance of English in My Life by Veronica Reyes
I consider that the capacity to read
and write are fundamental and essential for my life. Reading and writing are very valuable
instruments to learn more every day and to continue studying. It permits me to
communicate and to interact in positive way with the people around me.
I am learning English, because it is
a need to communicate me in this country (United States). English every day is used more in almost all
the areas of knowledge and human development.
I need to participate in the education of my two daughters. My girls are growing and soon will go to
school, by that time I need to understand, talk, read, and write English for
better communication and quality of life.
I should have more opportunities for work and access of information
among other benefits. With the tutoring
session give to me Cathy. She is an
excellent teacher, her help has been essential for me to communicate with the
doctors, whether in oral form or written.
My English is not very good, but is better. I give thanks to Cathy for her patience,
time and effort she has offered me.
My Rewards by Rita
Rizzuto
Upon hearing about writing an essay about experience in the
Literacy Program, I immediately thought “the Rewards I receive.”
I have been a volunteer all my adult life, starting at the
age 16, helping at our local hospital in Ilford, England during W.W. II. I volunteered for the Cancer Society for many
years, a local hospital, and out local library in Pennsylvania, serving on the
board there, and as a reader to pre-school children on Saturdays. All of these projects were enjoyed and
rewarding in different ways.
But the rewards I receive from the Literacy Program are so
much more profound. I’ve only had two students and in both cases, they had a
goal, and worked extremely hard. No
matter how much work I gave them, they performed so well, it was hard for me to
keep ahead of them. Their ambition led
me to do more.
The first student was from Mexico, college educated and
spoke English quite well, but to be employed in an International Trade
position, she was required to read, write and speak English fluently. So we worked very hard for just 3 months, and
she very proudly e-mailed me when she was hired in her chosen profession at the
port in Tampico, Mexico.
My new student is from the Czech Republic, only in this
country for 8 months, and a student barely three months. She arrived speaking no English, and I don’t
speak Czech, so there were a few hurdles. Her aim was to be able to hold a
conversation in English. Again, she has the desire and will, to work very hard,
and I’m happy to report she has just been hired by a large hotel in St.
Petersburg and converses in English quite well.
This is the reason I titled this essay – “My Rewards,” they
are so very fulfilling.