I have had difficulty in all subjects at one point in time, especially language and communication. I believe all these difficulties arose from my family's Hispanic roots. My parents had never gone to school and they only knew how to speak Spanish so when they arrived in the United States 20 years ago, it was both a dream come true and at one point in time a nightmare.
Too many not understanding the language of the land you live in is like losing your voice and becoming invisible. In Whaneta elementary school, I was the kid who knew how to speak Spanish, not English. My parents were born in Mexico and I had never heard them mutter a single English word at the time. When I was in school, I had no Idea what my teachers or classmates were talking …show more content…
I was the shy kid not knowing English made it worse. My classmates would bully me physically and verbally for being illiterate and clumsy. One of my classmates, Maria Carmona, would follow me to my house just to push me on the sidewalk every time I got up. My teachers would lose patience with me for not being able to speak English to the extent of bullying me. My PE teacher, Mr. Powell, taught volleyball to my classmates in the 2nd grade but I did not understand the concept so he would throw volleyballs at me until I learned how to play. As a result, I lost all of my confidence and ability to speak. I was afraid of my teachers and my classmates and my parents did not know how to speak English so I was alone. It was only then when I realized that I was the only one who could speak on my behalf. I sought help from my family doctor and he recommended me a psychologist to help me with my fear of speaking to people which had been instilled in me from all the bullying I had suffered. Today every time there is an opportunity to speak in class, I take it because I know I am one-step closer to healing my voice. Being the president of the Mathletes and the French club has also helped me practice speaking in front of large groups of people. While I am still a little shy and at times let apprehension take hold of me, I realize that it matters not how great one's ideas or discoveries are if we cannot
Too many not understanding the language of the land you live in is like losing your voice and becoming invisible. In Whaneta elementary school, I was the kid who knew how to speak Spanish, not English. My parents were born in Mexico and I had never heard them mutter a single English word at the time. When I was in school, I had no Idea what my teachers or classmates were talking …show more content…
I was the shy kid not knowing English made it worse. My classmates would bully me physically and verbally for being illiterate and clumsy. One of my classmates, Maria Carmona, would follow me to my house just to push me on the sidewalk every time I got up. My teachers would lose patience with me for not being able to speak English to the extent of bullying me. My PE teacher, Mr. Powell, taught volleyball to my classmates in the 2nd grade but I did not understand the concept so he would throw volleyballs at me until I learned how to play. As a result, I lost all of my confidence and ability to speak. I was afraid of my teachers and my classmates and my parents did not know how to speak English so I was alone. It was only then when I realized that I was the only one who could speak on my behalf. I sought help from my family doctor and he recommended me a psychologist to help me with my fear of speaking to people which had been instilled in me from all the bullying I had suffered. Today every time there is an opportunity to speak in class, I take it because I know I am one-step closer to healing my voice. Being the president of the Mathletes and the French club has also helped me practice speaking in front of large groups of people. While I am still a little shy and at times let apprehension take hold of me, I realize that it matters not how great one's ideas or discoveries are if we cannot