Marina's Story: Words or Works?

On April 17th, 2013, San Mateo Adult School ESL Student Marina, along with ESL students Hitomi, Iglika and Natasha, went with SMAS Assistant Director Tim Doyle to Sacramento for Leg Day.




Iglika, Hitomi, Marina, Natasha, and Tim

(Photo courtesy of Hitomi)

 Leg Day is a chance for people to talk to their representative in the Legislature, the people who make the laws.

We give our representatives our ideas and opinions.  We tell them what we want and need.  This is our job.  Their job is to listen and to make good laws to take care of the people of California.

This is Marina's story about Leg Day:

Words or Works?

Our trip to Sacramento was interesting and useful for me (and I think for my classmates, too). We have spoken English for more than 10 hours, seen the capital of California, had a tour of Capitol and its beautiful garden, and met a lot new people. The most of this people were from different Adult schools: teachers, administrators and students. But more important was that we have talked with four young people, who represented some senators or assembly members. All of them were very polite, kindly, and they have known more or less about adult education and its current problems. They have asked us some questions about our school, listened to us very attentive and told us that their sympathies with us. It seemed they have understood us and wanted to help. One of them said that our stories broke his heart.



Marina, Natasha, and Iglika in the Capitol gardens

(Photo courtesy of Hitomi)

However, we didn’t meet any real significant and powerful persons during our mission. I’m not sure their aids are able to change something into system. And were they sincere to us? Maybe they just have done their job – talking to visitors politely and showing them that their opinions and problems are important to the government. Will they report our visit to their bosses? Will they show them our colored papers or put our folder directly into a shredder? Could we affect their priorities? Were our emotional and true examples efficient? I hope it touched at least one of people who were talking with us on Wednesday. And maybe one day he or she will remind his or her boss about Adult education. “Little strokes fell great oaks”.