My Journey as an Adult Education Student
A school is a
place where children study to prepare for their future. Their outcomes are scored
by grades, and their progress is assessed by the extent they improved during
the school year. However, this conventional evaluation system is not applicable
to adult education even though it is called adult “school”. Adult education plays
an important role in community integration, which is especially important in a
region with an influx of new immigrants, like California. It contributes to
society by giving new comers a sense of community, confidence, and courage to
take the first step towards their dreams.
First of all, without
exaggeration, my journey as an adult education student saved my life. When I
moved to this country, I was in a deep grief, missing everything about my
country. I didn’t want to move abroad in the time when education in my country was
crucial to my children’s success there. I refused to come at first but finally
decided to move, feeling as if I was going to jump from a cliff. After coming
here, I felt hopeless. I was lucky enough to speak English to some extent, but
still it was a struggle to get my family’s life settled in a new place. Then
one day, I found a booklet about San Mateo Adult School in the mail box of my
apartment, and everything started to move forward. I was shy at the beginning,
but my teacher and classmates embraced me with a cheerful welcome. It was
heartwarming to know that there was a place I could go everyday to see familiar
faces. I enjoyed talking to other students from all over the world, learning
about their cultures and different ways of thinking. I also learned that I
wasn’t the only one who felt disoriented after arriving here. My classmates’
stories about their journeys to the U.S. assured me that life would improve if
I kept on trying. The classroom became my second home where I nourished a sense
of community.
Secondly, before joining
this school, I had an image that a school would be a closed environment
separated from the society. At first, I thought that being a full time adult
school student might not be a good idea because I don’t have much chance to
meet native speakers. However, I was wrong. As I got to know my classmates, I started
to realize that some of them were also parents in my children’s school. I was
able to recognize and talk to them when I picked up my children from school. My
school was also a gateway to knowing people in the community. After building up
my confidence, I felt more comfortable in starting a conversation with other American
parents who I saw at school. Interestingly, I found out that many of them were
also immigrants who had experienced hardships when they first arrived here. By
helping me develop enough confidence to take a step to participate in the
community, my school gave me a broad opportunity to communicate with people outside
of school.
Most importantly,
this school helped me go through the most difficult time in my family; my
daughter was hospitalized for three weeks due to her health problems. I was so
confused and terrified about the situation, so I couldn’t help sharing my
circumstances with my teachers and classmates. It was too much for me to hold
it by myself. They were concerned about me, hugged me, and cheered me up to be
strong. At my daughter’s bedside, while I was watching her taking a nap, I
received a video letter from my classmates, calling out, “Get well soon!” I
couldn’t watch it without crying. One of my friends from Russia gave me a
beautiful green stone that is believed to have power to protect children.
Another friend prayed every day for us wishing for my daughter’s fast recovery.
I visited classrooms when I had a chance. Hugging is not a common practice in
my country, but I learned how warm it could be through my classmates’ arms. They
admired me for being brave and strong. It was wonderful to know many people
were thinking about us. I cannot be grateful enough for their support.
“You will never know what you can
do until you try!” is my favorite phrase that I have learned in this school. In
the society I grew up, being a middle-aged woman wasn’t much fun; we were expected
to devote our time to support our family, putting aside our own dreams.
However, I leaned from this school that I have the right to pursue my happiness
no matter how old I am. Of course, my family is important, but now I started to
think about what “I” want to achieve for the rest of my life. It is scary to take
the first step, but “getting out of one’s comfort zone” is another thing I
learned from my school as an American motto. My current dream is to study nutrition
and psychology in college and become a dietitian who has insight into the humans
mind.
As I shared in my story, I obtained
a sense of community, confidence, and a motivation to achieve my dream. I grew
tremendously during the first year of my life in America. I will not forget my
experience in this adult school even after I “graduate” from school. This is the
place where my second life began.
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