Celebrating A Year Of Study And Achievement

The mood of the capacity crowd, of close to 250 participants, was one of jubilation. The event, held annually, took place in the auditorium of Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Greenwich Village.

Eleven students read their work, which was published in Literacy Partners Student Stories 2011, a volume of more than 235 essays and poems created by Literacy Partners students during the year. Printing for the book was contributed by Simon & Schuster.

The Clare R. Gregorian Volunteer of the Year Award was bestowed on Victoria Matus, an ESOL tutor at the Sonny Sloan Literacy Center.

Alexandra Steedman and Roger Fitzgerald, tutors at LPI’s Time, Inc. learning center were joint recipients of the Jonathan Levin Educator of the Year Award.

Emma Davis, Assistant Center Coordinator at the New York Life and Learning Leaders learning centers, was the recipient of the Staff Volunteer Award.

A selection of student writings from Student Stories 2011 follows below after the photos.

Select Student Stories 2011

DOREIDA DIAZ – Pre-GED at Oberia Dempsey

I Didn’t Understand

When I walked in,
I didn’t understand.

As time passed,
I did not want to give up,
yet I still didn’t understand.

After time, I began to see.

Then one day, unaware,
my eyes opened.

Nine months later,
I am able to conquer
anything that is thrown in my lap.

I stick with it,
stand by it,
and make it happen.

Today, my life is a positive
WOW.

ALEX FERGUSON – Adult Basic Education at Oberia Dempsey

I come to school every day because it humbles me and it keeps me focused. School is positive for me because I’m bettering myself by learning how to read and write.

GARVIN HENRY – Adult Basic Education at Learning Leaders

I came to the Literacy Partners program to accomplish my goals so I can do my best to move on to the GED school. Then I can go about passing the test so I could move on to take my SAT tests to move on to college.

I have to go through these obstacles head on so I can take my goals and dreams to complete my journey; the journey that I will take to be what I want in life.

I know I had my ups and downs in life feeling like I had no interest in education. When I was growing up but there is no way in the world I’m going to quit this.

 

JUDY HURLEY – Adult Basic Education at Oberia Dempsey

My mother always told to me to go to school and learn because education is very important. So I try my best to go to school and learn. I remember my teacher saying that Judy can get it done. Where did I go wrong?

ANGELA JONES – Adult Basic Education program at Henry Street

Life is Filled With Possibilities

Life is filled with possibilities that challenge us each day.
To take a chance, try something new.

And it’s through these special moments,
That we learn to change and grow.
To explore the precious gift,
Of who we are and what we know.

Unless you take a chance or two,
In order to begin,
There’s nothing we can hope to gain,
No prize that we can win.

For it’s not until we try,
That we find out what we can do.
So don’t wait until tomorrow,
To discover something new.

JACQUELINE MARCANO – Adult Basic Education at Oberia Dempsey

I Want to Move Forward in My Life With My Education

I was a struggle when I did not know how to read at all, but now I read a little better. I thank God today I know more than yesterday. Through my healing process of not having my GED , I have to move forward in my life to learn more.

When we are a parent and our child reading is higher level than you, it’s a challenge to deal with that in life. Now I feel more confident in myself because I’m going to school. It builds up my confident in reading also in writing and math too. I thank God for this program that we have to build up our reading also writing and math.

Sometimes I feel strong but sometimes I feel little sad because I am not where I want to be. Writing always been my challenge in life since I was a little girl but, today I am better than before so I thank God for that alone.

NIKKI MCCOY – Pre-GED at Henry Street

The Time I Spent With Dad

One of the most important days in my life was when Nelson Mandela came to New York City. This is important because I got to spend time with my father, and the walk was long.

It was the summer of 1993. My father came to me and asked me to take a walk, this would mean a walk around the block, but this day it was not so. I asked, “Where are we going?” he said, “to see Nelson Mandela, this man spent twenty-seven years in prison, twenty-seven years, this would be a historical moment. You know what that mean? You would be able to tell your children about this moment.”

So I asked, “What did he do to go to prison for twenty-seven years?” My father said, “for apartheid”. So I asked again if he wanted apartheid (not knowing what it means). My father said, “No he fought for something he believes in.” SO just recently, I just look up apartheid and it said that apartheid means strict racial segregation as practiced in South Africa but then I look up segregation which means the policy of compelling racial groups to live apart. And finally I realized that Nelson Mandela was anti-apartheid, which means that he was not a part of the apartheid. So he did fight for something he believes in.

And on that day as we finally reached the park of the high school Boys and Girls, there were cheering and chanting “keep the pressure on! keep the pressure on! keep the pressure on!” And to me it was a beautiful moment to see so many people, I mean there were people everywhere, in the park, outside the park, on the fence, outside the fence, it was so crowded with nothing but peace and love in the air. All for a man who fought for us not to be separate but to be equal. This man who did twenty-seven years on prison. Nelson Mandela.

RAPHAEL MENENDEZ – Adult Basic Education at New York Life

My Favorite Actor

My favorite actor is Jackie Gleason. I think he was very funny. The way he moved, talked and used his hands, all make me laugh.

The show he starred in was called “The Honeymooners”.

It was about Ralph and Alice and their friends Norton and Trixie. Norton and Trixie lived above Ralph and Alice. Ralph was a bus driver and Norton was a sewer worker. Ralph always said, “One of these days, POW! Right in the kisser!”

NEQUA ROBINSON – Adult Basic Education at New York Life

Dear Justin,

When you were first born I knew I was a mother. The first time I felt you kick in my stomach I was so happy to finally be a mom. My mom was so happy I became a mother. I held you close to my heart. I thought you were beautiful. You had big brown eyes and a big head of hair. You smelled nice like a baby. I fell in love with you in my arms and smiled.

OSVEL ROMERO, JR. – Pre-GED at Henry Street

Thoughts on Ten Years Hence

Ten years from now I would like to become a police officer or a social worker. I picture myself in a much better situation than I am now. I’m currently struggling to put my life back together. I will in faith accomplish my goals.

In ten years I see myself living in a house, somewhere quiet with my daughter Delilah and son Joshua. I plan on pursuing a career in law enforcement with a back-up plan of becoming a social worker. At this moment in my life- I am taking the proper steps to ensure a promising future for me and my children. I wasted too much time hanging out, getting high, being a member of a gang and being involved in activities that lead to Nowheresville, jail or death.

I had a wake-up call a few months ago – I reached a turning point in my life that truly opened my eyes from the blindness and darkness I was living in. I’m currently a student of Literacy Partners working on obtaining my GED, one of the first steps of climbing the ladder of success in my life.

YADIRA ROMERO – Pre-GED at Oberia Dempsey

Memory
The day I got married
was magical.
Everything was
exceptional.
Everything came out
The way I had planned.
My husband tried so hard
to make it happen, and
he sure did.
The day my husband and I
found out we were pregnant,
we were so happy that
we laughed and cried.
We didn’t know what to do –
it was incredible.
We wanted it more
than anything in the world.

ALICE THOMAS – Adult Basic Education at Oberia Dempsey

The positive thing in my life is my children. They help me get stronger everyday as I learn to read. I’m proud of myself.

DEJHA VALENTINE – Adult Basic Education at Oberia Dempsey

My family keeps me going especially my dad. He doesn’t give up on me and he helps me keep going. My dad is the best. I am glad that he is my dad and I am glad that my family is by my side too. My dad put me in this program because he felt that this place can help me. I am happy that he put me in this program. It is doing a lot for me. I feel good that I am learning.

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