Gratitude for the Chance to Serve: A Pandemic Thanksgiving Story

Gratitude for The Opportunity to Serve Others in a Time of Crisis

Two SMAS students, Vanessa Santos and Xin Ying Li, and two staff members, Stephanie Kriebel and Marina Kravtsova, were recognized by San Mateo City Council as CERT volunteers active in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic this past summer.

SMAS Staff Member Marina Kravtsova writes:

 

I personally want to thank Stephanie Kriebel who provided an opportunity to receive the CERT training for SMAS students and staff in Summer 2019.  Opportunities like that make the difference in immigrants' lives (speaking from the experience).

 

With pride and gratitude,

Marina

 

SMAS Student Vanessa Santos writes:

 

I appreciate this opportunity to be useful to the community.

I am really happy to be part of the San Mateo Adult School.

I am grateful to Marina for sending me the slide.

Thank you Stephanie for your caring and hard work for the school community.

Vanessa Santos

 

Former SMAS and current CSM Student Xin Ying Li writes:

 

My name is Ying, a former student at SMAS and a current student at the College of San Mateo.

 

Having seen too many heart-broken stories in China, I decided to participate in the SM senior center lunch delivery program when COVID 19 began to attack our community last spring. For me, it was not only an action to protect the most vulnerable among us but also a practice to cope with my own sadness, fear, anxiety, and anger. I heard the call from my heart that I had to do things to fight against the invisible virus. 

 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I’d like to give thanks here to those who helped me throughout my participation in the program.

 

First thanks to teacher Stephanie, I gained an opportunity to attend basic Community Emergency Response Team training at SMAS in 2019 summer, so I was qualified to volunteer the lunch delivery program after receiving three other short online trainings.

 

Thanks to Sandra and Carolyn who both gave the volunteers detailed instructions, I’ve learned how to respect others and protect myself while carrying out the non-contact senior lunch delivery processes.

 

Thanks to dear Marina, when I saw her beautiful eyes and heard her crisp voice at the SM senior center parking lot, I was so excited and knew that I was not alone in the battle against the virus.

 

Thanks to my Chinese classmate Lucy in Room 41, who immediately donated medical masks to the SM senior center when I told her that there were two staff wearing cloth masks.

 

Thanks to the old gentleman who said that “I’m waiting for the sunshine” when he opened the door in front of me and thanks to the lady who would greet me with smiling eyes outside her house every time. I was so touched at those moments.

 

Last thanks to my husband and my son, who always understood and supported me when I  was volunteering as a CERT member. 

 

My inner fear and anxiety has been reduced since I volunteered for senior lunch delivery. It’s clear that we are not isolated as we practice social distance. As SM community members, we can work together to get through the present hard time.

 

Wendy Samayoa's Graduation Speech: The Difference is Determination

Wendy Samayoa accepts her diploma
from SMUHSD Trustee Linda Lees Dwyer

Wendy Samayoa shares the speech she gave at the San Mateo Adult School 2018 Graduation.

Prepare to be inspired!

There is a Spanish quote that sums up feelings and thoughts at this moment “La direfencia entre lo possible y lo impossible esta en la determination de una persona.”  “The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in the determination of a person.” Hello My name is Wendy Samayoa and I am here because of my determination!!

This is an evening that marks the end of an important stage in my life.  My road to educational success has not been easy as it has not been for others here tonight.  I’m from Guatemala. When I was a child my parents got divorced and my mother made the decision to come to the United States, while my father and I remained in Guatemala. I was raised by my grandparents and my aunt, along with my two sisters.   My early education from elementary school to high school was very successful. I knew from very early on I wanted to be teacher. Knowing what I wanted to do I was determined to succeed.

I enrolled at the local university and graduated as a Professor. After I graduated from the university, I started my Master’s degree in Psychology. Then my road to success became more difficult. I was unable to finish my degree because of the violence and political turmoil that was going on. Being constantly threatened and no longer feeling safe I decided to come to the United States.  My heart remains in Guatemala but my road to my success is in America.

I came to the United States in July 2016 to live with my mother. The transition from Guatemala to the United States was much more difficult than I could have imagined   At that time my English skills were very poor and as a result I could not get a job here. It was very important that I improve my English skills before continuing my education.  We looked into enrolling at CSM but I could not afford the tuition fee at that time. Determined my mother and I continued to search for the right school. My mother suggested that I could go to San Mateo Adult School and enroll in ESL classes.

I enrolled in High Intermediate ESL level in fall of 2016.  The first semester was difficult since I had a hard time communicating with other students in English   Soon my English communication skills improved and my confidence in learning returned. Choosing to return to school was a hard decision that changed my life but I wanted to continue my studies and determined to earn a degree in this country.  I was told that the Adult School offered a High School Diploma Program. This program was entirely different than ESL because you need to pass required academic courses to earn a High School Diploma. Many of the courses I took in high school in Guatemala were not transferrable in the US so I needed to make up 30 credits.  This has not been easy, there were times I wanted to give up my educational dreams and just go to work. But with the assistance and guidance of the High School Diploma staff I am now a high school graduate ready to start the next chapter in my life. I want to give a special thanks to Carlota, Mr Beall, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Creegan, Frantz and George for always encouraging me to continue my education and share my success with others.

My confidence and determination has instilled in me to be a role model to other students who have had or has similar difficulties in life. In the summer of 2017, I joined the school’s Ambassador Program, a position which I continue to hold today. In fall 2017, I ran for the Student Council President position and won. I have been a pioneer in two San Mateo Adult School pilot programs: ESL City Government Academy, and the ESL Eat Healthy Be Active Community Health Program. This Summer I am volunteering as a teacher’s aide in a Low Beginning ESL class.

I met my first long term goal and will finally receive my High School Diploma. My short term goals are to continue to improve my English skills, and go to community college next year.  And now, my second long term goal is to be a teacher here in the United States.

I would not be here tonight speaking in front of you without saying thank you to those who have always been by my side. Thanks God, my mom, my family, my teachers and my friends, thank you for supporting me in my decisions even when you did not agree with them. THANK YOU is not enough to express what I feel, this mixture of sadness, happiness and satisfaction to reach the goal.  And to all other graduates here tonight be proud of what you have accomplished and continue to follow your dreams.

So… remember “La direfencia entre lo possible y lo impossible esta en la determination de

una persona.”  “The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in the

determination of a person.”

Thank you, Wendy, for inspiring us to choose courage, effort, and persistence.

Learn more about the SMAS High School Diploma program here.

The ESL City Government Academy: Wendy's Story

Wendy Samayoa, Morning Student Council President, writes about her experience in the ESL City Government Academy. 

Wendy trying out a
police motorcycle

Hi, my name is Wendy Samayoa and I’m from Guatemala. I came to the USA in July, 2016 and in August of the same year I started studying at San Mateo Adult School. I was a High Intermediate ESL student when I started in this school.

A couple of months ago my teacher Stephanie Kriebel told me we were going to participate in a new project called ESL City Government Academy. Although I could not understand at that moment what she said in her presentation, she left a great impression and although I had some doubts, I joined this project.

This is my first experience with a project like this. I know that the objective of this project is to show us how the government of our city works, and to learn the appropriate processes to request help or to report an emergency.

At first it was difficult for me to understand the whole process and the amount of communication skills involved; but now I understand the sense of obligation between the members of a community and its government. With this project I have acquired a greater knowledge about the work carried out by the city government and the complexity it entails.

On our first class to Fire Station 23 in San Mateo, we received a binder to keep all our information organized, and also a bottle of water with the logo of the City of San Mateo. Over the course of the program I’ve learned how to respond correctly to an emergency, how to reserve an area in the parks of San Mateo, how to request the help of the police if it is not an emergency, and how they treat the wastewater to send it back to the ocean.

Throughout these weeks I have had the opportunity to collaborate with my classmates from other classrooms and learn from them. This project has given me many benefits in terms of group work as part of the teaching and learning activities. Working as a team can greatly facilitate the work and involve the students. By getting involved in this group I increased my participation, began putting in more effort, and got more satisfaction because I believe working in groups can be challenging at times and requires a set of skills.

Being part of this project is very pleasant for me since it has made me aware of the things we must do to improve our lifestyle for the benefit of all of us. Another lesson I’ve learned is that things can change very quickly and dramatically if we do not make a change now; it is in our hands to give a better future to the new generations. This project has given me a new vision about the work done by the city government and I appreciate the opportunity my teacher has given me to be part of this project.