Literacy Links

Success Stories

Just the Beginning

by Georgina Hernandez

I would like to tell you a success story. My story, which is not too long or too dramatic, has some events that have been very hard. I have painful memories about some of those events.

First I have to tell you that I got married at a very young age, therefore I was not able to finish my education. That was back in my country, Guatemala. I was in the 8th grade, and, though not a perfect student, I was a good student. I met my husband, and I fell in love with him. I won't tell you the events that led me to marry him; it would take too long.

A year after we were married, we came to the United States. I had several jobs baby-sitting over the next four years. I was often not paid and expected to work many nineteen hour days. My husband worked in a grocery store, and we had to trust people because we didn't speak English. Four years after arriving in the United States my first daughter was born.

Working was better now because I had learned to speak some English. I cleaned houses, and I was earning in a day what I had previously earned in a week. My son was born in 1993. Then in 1997, at the Ridgemont Elementary Open House, Mrs. Bellamy did a presentation on the Family Literacy/Even Start Program. I asked her if I could join the program, and she said, "Yes." She gave me an application and told me to come to class at Ridgemont on September 15th. I thought my husband would not come; but he was very interested, and we started attending ESL classes as a family.

When we came on the first day, we were given an oral test and were placed in separate classes. Our first journal topic was about how we celebrate our country's independence day. Mine had a lot of mistakes, but she helped me to correct those mistakes. Maybe you won't believe me, but I still have that journal. I felt very comfortable coming to class, and I began to learn more in each class. I had many problems with my spelling and grammar, but thanks to the guidance of my teachers, I overcame them. My teachers were always there to encourage me to keep going.

In February of that school year, it was announced that the GED placement test would be given to any interested student. My teacher encouraged me to take the test. She was convinced that I was ready. When I went to take the test I was very nervous, but once I got started I felt very comfortable. I made the grade and was moved into the GED class. My GED teacher, Mrs. Placide, worked with me and explained all the things that I didn't understand. My teachers continued to encourage me.

In March, 1998, my sister-in law and brother-in law were accepted into the program. Now we had our whole family involved in the Family Literacy/Even Start Program. In May, I found out I was expecting my third child, but that didn't affect my desire to learn. That fall, my GED teacher had even higher expectations of what she wanted me to do. She now expected my journal entries to be 200 to 300 words in length and to include more details. I was becoming more confident in my writing skills. I was anxious to start the new semester in January, 1999, but my daughter decided to be born on the first class day. My family did not come back to classes for two weeks.

When I came back it was hard for me to leave my baby in the Even Start child care room. Once, while I was reading a book in my class, I heard a baby cry, so I left to check on her. She was fine, and I started adjusting to leaving her in the classroom next door. Mrs. Placide, my GED teacher, started to encourage me to take the real GED test. Mrs. Placide said "Go ahead; take the test. That way you will see what else you should be working on." Her words encouraged me; my husband encouraged me as well. In April, I took the test. I had to wait three weeks to get the results, and I couldn't believe it! I PASSED THE WHOLE TEST, and I got my GED Diploma. My husband was so very proud of me and happy for me. I kept going to class until my big day came, graduation day, June 24,1999. I was very nervous because for the first time I was going to speak in front of a lot of people, but I was very happy.

About two months later, Mrs. Placide told me about an instructional assistant position with the Family Literacy/Even Start Program. I was hired by Mrs. Humme, Wharton County Junior College Adult Education, and I went to the in-service meeting in August. I worked at the Education Complex every day, at Ridgemont Elementary on Monday and Wednesday evenings and at Goodman Elementary on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. My job was to administer the English test to the new students who came to apply for the program. As a result of the experience I had with the Family Literacy/Even Start Program, I had a job that I really liked and my family was very proud of me.

This program has given my family a brighter future. I am now my husband's cheerleader so that he can graduate and get his GED. He currently works five days a week at Fiesta Grocery Store; he attends classes four days a week at the Education Complex during the mornings, and one night a week at Ridgemont Elementary. He is currently in the pre-GED class. He has progressed so much that I know he will get his GED, and graduate just like I did. He is very intelligent, and that's one of the reasons I am very proud of him.

This program has given our family many opportunities. In July, 2000, my husband was invited to speak at a State wide Pre-Service Head Start Conference for Educators in Dallas. He presented at a session called "Male Involvement in Children's Lives; is it Worth it?" I was told, he gave a very impressive presentation, and I know he did because I was able to see the video. This was a very wonderful opportunity for him because he had never spoken before a group before. He did it because he had something important to say about the importance of a father's involvement in his children's education.

Because of the progress that my husband and I have made, we have both been able to get permanent residency in the United States. I was able to go to Guatemala for the first time in 14 years in July of 2000. My mother and family were able to meet my children, and this was a very happy reunion. The sad part of this trip was that my mother couldn't remember that I was her daughter; she has Alzheimer's disease. She is 72 but appears 90.

On September of 2001, I applied for the Parent Liaison position, a full time position with Fort Bend Independent School district. My experience working with families, adult education, testing experience and other qualifications made me the best applicant for the job. I am now responsible for entering the entire Family Literacy Even Start participants' information into the ACES accountability system. When necessary, I help by conducting Home Visits to those parents who are eligible to participate in our Home Visitation program. I also have to assist parents by translating for them when they need help. I still work at Ridgemont Elementary during the evenings, and some times I help out by training other staff members on how to administrate the test and how to complete all the necessary enrollment forms. My personal goal is to graduate and someday become a bilingual teacher. I am currently attending my second semester at Houston Community College.

The Family Literacy/Even Start Program is an important educational opportunity for all families.