SUCCESS STORIES

Do you have a success story you would like to share?
Stories can include personal student accounts, teachers' accounts of successful learners, or administrators' stories of successful program practices. To submit your success story for possible publication on TCALL's Website, email Literacy Links Editor Peggy Sue Durbin.

My name is Imelda Mendez and I am from Mexico.  In 1999 my husband, Jesus, decided to go to America to look for a different life...full story.

I dropped out of school in the 7th grade.  At 16 years of age I tried to get my GED.  I joined a program...full story.

“Ah HA!” --- My Favorite Classroom Sound
by Tom Enright

It’s probably a favorite sound of yours, too. You spent two sessions going over the intricacies of Coordinate Geometry. All your students gave you their rapt attention. As you covered each step: “This is the X-axis...full story.

Student Success Story
by Olga L. Serrano

I am an adult learning at The Harris County Department of Education’s Irvington Learning Center. I’m so glad and proud to be a student here, because it has been very helpful, not only for me...full story.

My name is Alfonso Vega.  I was born in San Luis Potosi Mexico.  I was raised by both of my parents, Lucio and Carlota Vega.  I had 6 brothers and 2 sisters.  Life for me was really hard and I struggled a lot.  The main problem...full story

My name is Raymundo Rebollar. I was born in the state of Mexico. I grew up with my parents and sisters. My parents worked in agriculture. They sowed corn, beans, pumpkins, peanuts, etc. They had cattle, goats, chickens, and pigs. I was very happy in the farm with my family, until one day my father passed away...full story

My name is Maria Garcia Vega and I was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in 1955. I first came to the United States...full story.

My Success Story
by Mario Ruiz
Published August 20, 2007

My name is Mario Ruiz. I was born and raised in Mexico City. As a child life was very hard on us. I have nine brothers and sisters. In those times my mother worked very hard...full story.

Success Story of an Even Start Student -- 2005-2006
by Linda T. Zepeda
Published August 3, 2007

Around the year 1988, a starry-eyed, 18-year-old Mexican girl, mentally gazed across the treacherous waters of the Rio Grande River toward “greener pastures,” and realized...full story.

AVANCE – El Paso; Success Story for Literacy Links
by Sanjay Mathur and Carol Martinez
Published June 27, 2007

Martha Ronquillo found out about the AVANCE-El Paso Even Start program from a social worker who visited her in the hospital when her younger daughter Hailey was born in November 2003.  She has two...full story.

My Success Story
by Felipe Sanchez
Published June 13, 2007

My name is Felipe Sanchez. I was born February 5, 1952 in Queretaro, Mexico. My story is one of an ordinary nature. In 1985 one of my brothers in law encouraged me to cross the river for the first time. I went ahead with the plan...full story.

My name is Margarita B. de Nava. I was born in 1920 in McNeal, Texas, It is north of Austin. Some of my brothers and sisters were born here and some were born in San Diego Alejandria, Jalisco, Mexico. There were twelve of us...full story.

My name is Carlos Flores and I am an adult learner. I have been taking adult education classes at the Irvington Learning Center of the Harris County Department of Education 2005....full story

Si Puedes/You Can
by Omar Vilchez-Vaca
Published April 24, 2007

My name is Omar Vilchez Vaca. I was born in the town of Zitacuar in Michuacan, Mexico. When I used to live in my hometown, I enjoyed getting together with my family,...full story

Hard Work Makes for Success
by Manuel Orona
Published April 11,2007

My name is Manuel Orona. I am from the state of Durango, Mexico, where you have to work for yourself when there is no one else that can help. There were five of us....full story

ESL Learning Can Be Fun!
By Maryanne Grasso
Published April 2, 2007

Who says you can’t have fun while learning? Most of us can recall special school projects and events that were enjoyable when we were growing up. They seem to stand out....full story

Facing the Future
by Francisco Rangel
Published March 26, 2007

My name is Francisco Rangel.

This story is about my English class.

When one of my friends told me if I wanted to come to school, I took the opportunity....full story

Learning Capacity: An Adult Learner Success Story
by Dave Rozeboom
Published February 22, 2007

Bryan came back to our institution to finish his degree. It had been three years since he had taken a class and studied something other than the opposing batters. That is, Bryan had left school....full story

LA FUENTE Learning Center

My Success Story
by Alfonso Vega
Published February 12, 2007

My name is Alfonso Vega.  I was born in San Luis Potosi Mexico.  I was raised by both of my parents, Lucio and Carlota Vega.  I had 6 brothers and 2 sisters.  Life for me was really hard....full story

LA FUENTE Learning Center

My Rebirth
by Blanca J. Gomez
Published January 26, 2007

My name is Blanca J. Gomez. I was born in Guerrero, Mexico. When I was young the most important things to me were my studies and my family, but I believed I was in love. I had a boyfriend and that is where my troubles began. He was not....full story

Rio Hondo ISD

The program I work with is the Rio Hondo ISD Even Start Family Literacy Program. We are a small rural school district with about 2000 students, located 10 miles east of Harlingen, and 15 miles northeast of Brownsville.

About four years ago..... full story

LA FUENTE Learning Center

My Success Story
by Rosario Negrete
Published November 27, 2006

Hi, my name is Rosario Negrete. I am from San Luis Postosi, Mexico. My childhood was like every one else’s, I come from poverty where we had only the bare essentials. There were 7 in my family, 2 died for lack of doctors and medicine. At 12 years of age, I started working as a servant running errands, doing light housework, and...... full story

Reader’s Theater ESL Students Perform Puppet Show for Early Childhood Center
by Houda Khalid, M.Ed.
Published October 31, 2006

A few weeks into the spring 2006 semester I received an enthusiastic phone call from Mary Anne Grasso who wanted to ask me how I felt about her level two adult ESL class performing a puppet show for the children in the Early Childhood Center at North Harris College. As you can imagine, I was delighted...... full story

Harris County Department of Education, Irvington Learning Center

My Success Story as an Adult Learner
by Blanca Marin
Published October 3, 2006

My name is Blanca Marin. I have been in United States since 1991. When I arrived I only spoke my native language, Spanish. Between 1991 and 1997 I continued speaking Spanish only, but at the end of 1997 I started a new job where they required me to speak English. I was in charge of the cafeteria at an elementary school. I remember that at the time my English was so poor, that when the students asked me for a spoon, fork, napkin, plate, etc… I had difficulty understanding what they needed. After few weeks...... full story

*Please note: In publishing adult learners' writings, TCALL generally edits typos or spelling errors. For the most part, however, the authors' words remain unchanged to preserve the article’s integrity and the writer's voice.