Well, another challenging SRJC school year has ended. Congrats to all our students who worked so hard and hung in there, completing all their course work. Out of 110 students, 108 successfully stayed in school and finished their 2021-2022 Fall and Spring semesters. We are very proud of their achievements.
LITERACYWORKS FEATURED STUDENT
Maria
I came to the United States from Mexico as a migrant. I am married and have four children: Luisangel, who is twenty-one years old; Manuel, who is eighteen years old and studying at Windsor High School; Julia, who is five years old and studying at Cali Calmecac Language Academy and Juan Pablo, who would have been eleven years old this summer. I am the ninth of a family of eleven. The education I had in my country was only until the sixth grade. Here in the USA, I took a few months of non-credit ESL classes because I wanted to learn the English language, but I stopped taking classes because I had to work. After three years of work, I got the position of assistant manager. A few years later, I took over as manager. In the same year, I lost my hearing on the left side. My hearing loss has been a challenge in my life because now I need to use hearing aids.
My son, Juan Pablo, was born in 2011 with spina bifida (a birth defect that occurs when a baby's spine does not form normally). As a result of his condition, JP lived in a Saratoga hospital for almost seven years until the end of his life. My family and I spent every weekend with him. Having a child receiving long-term medical treatment is incredibly difficult, especially when he lives two hours away. Also, because of medical bills and financial difficulty, we lost our house in 2014. After a few years, I went back to school. In the fall of 2016, I was pregnant, taking nine units, working full time, and visiting my son every weekend in the hospital. After having my daughter in the fall two semesters later, I continued taking classes. I completed the highest level of ESL and earned my high school equivalency (GED).
During the time of the pandemic, not everything was bad. Being at home, I was able to take 12 units and other adult classes. I also had to stop working when Covid-19 started because the place where I work closed. As I had more time at home, I began to help in the Windsor Services Alliance Pantry when the pandemic started. I helped 4-6 hours a week, collecting food from the different stores, distributing food to the people of the Windsor community, and cleaning after the delivery of food. Family circumstances now prevent me from helping.
In April 2021, my husband suffered a motorbike accident that paralyzed his left arm and took away his profession. He has had several surgeries since then. I help him with physical therapy every day and change his dressings, etc. Even though this is a tragedy for my family, my desire to become a nurse is stronger than ever.
I am currently taking ten units at SRJC. I want to be a bilingual nurse. I chose this specialty because by being bilingual, you can help more people who need it. I want to complete an Associate Degree in Spanish (AA) and Latin American Studies (AA). Also, I want to finish my prerequisite classes to apply to the Nursing program. My goals for the future are to finish my nursing and AA prerequisite classes and apply to the nursing program to be a pediatric nurse. I feel that I can help other people by being bilingual. Also, I want to support and help people in my community who don't speak English. Likewise, I want to help children with special needs who are like my son, Juan Pablo, who, due to his condition, was in the hospital all his life.
I love to study, and I love learning new things all the time. Thanks to Literacyworks support, I am certain I will be a nurse one day.
As many of you who have followed this newsletter know, the Literacyworks Center provides more than financial support to its students. We meet with every student individually to discuss the challenges they are facing.
This psychological and emotional support and resource referrals assist our students beyond the classroom. We do this through group meetings during the pandemic as Zoom events. We also do individual interviews with each participant. These virtual meetings have been a rich opportunity to listen to this amazing group of individuals as they create their future through education.
In a 2019 fundraising event called ‘A Hundred People Who Care,’ the theme of our presentation was ‘Changing Lives.’ We were successful in winning $10,000 for our program at that event. What now seems to be an important realization it’s been meeting and coming to know these 110 individuals has changed our lives. The remarkable capacity to deal with stress, struggle, and challenges humbles our staff as we work with these driven students.
In are individual interviews, we ask about the most significant challenges they face in and out of school. Time and money are the most common responses. Most of our group are taking English as a Second Language; they have young children and work long hours. Another of the questions we ask is what is the most significate motivator in their life. Here the responses vary. Some say their children; others say they love to learn, and others discuss wanting to change their life to improve their children’s opportunities. So, coming to know this group of resilient individuals is humbling for us at Literacyworks.
STUDENT VOICES
Thank you so much for your support. I want to improve my live and get a better job so my children can succeed.
- Elira
During Covid my husband lost his job and went to work to support the family. I almost dropped out of college. Your support kept me going.
- Erica
This is the first scholarship I have ever gotten. You believe in me. Another person trusts me. It is wonderful to have your support.
- Blanca
I have a 14 year old daughter who has become very sick. She requires treatment 4 days a week. I considered ending school. I am close to a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Because of your support I will continue. My father told me, “You have to dance to the music life gives you.”
- Irais
Literacyworks Center is the best program I have been to. Chris and Rita make a wonderful team. Literacyworks Center is supporting me a lot, not just with the money, for example, when I talk to Chris he always ask me how I’m doing with my classes, how I am, what are my future plans and I know he likes to hear I progress every semester and that motivates me to work hard and keep going with my studies. Your support is essential for all of us and for who whants to continue in school. Thank you!
- Lidia
Thanks, Literacy works Center, Rita and Chris this program is very important to me, because it has given me a lot of financial and emotional support, motivating me to continue studying. With the help they give me. I can buy books that are needed in the class and many other items.
- Dolores
I am very happy to have this help, the program is a blessing for me because with that I can help myself, with making my internet payments or buying books, or whatever I need in the semester! thanks Rita and Chris for supporting all the students, since it is a great help for the scholarship thanks for all the support!! Blessings.
- Tania
COPPERFIELD'S BOOKS & LITERACYWORKS PRESENT: GREG SARRIS
Last month, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Copperfield's Books and Literacyworks welcomed friend, Literacyworks Honorary Board Member, and local author Greg Sarris to Montgomery Village to discuss his memoir: Becoming Story.
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!
Our low-income students are among the most vulnerable in our community when it comes to suffering during a disaster. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, many of our students are suffering a loss of income and housing. Also, SRJC has been closed since the first of April when online classes began.
Our staff is offering additional support services to ensure our students stay in school and complete their course of study. We are proud that most have persisted and remained.
Thank you for supporting our students with your donation during this difficult time. You are making a difference in their lives with your gift.
