contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

ROSE COVINGTON Living in NYC34Still, I had to adjust to a new culture that didn’t feel natural to me. Icouldn’t do anything my own way. And I depended on my husband for everything.I had been very independent before, and I loved doing things by myself. Now, I wasasking myself, Who am I? all the time. I didn’t feel smart or confident. I wasn’t thesame person anymore.Eventually, things started to go well. My English started to improve.I enjoyed getting together with friends. Discussions didn’t give me headachesanymore; on the contrary, I would come home worn out from talking so much!I’m now taking English classes. As part of the class, I wrote a haiku, and itwas published in New York University’s Literacy Review. This changed my life. Itmade me feel smart, confident and like myself once again. It helped my childhooddreams of becoming a poet come true.All this experience has given me more empathy for others who are learningnew things and even with my own family. I now know myself better, and my capacityto do and learn things has increased.I love New York City. Even after five years, I say to myself how amazing it isto explore the city! I enjoy all the seasons, from the hot, humid summer to the icy,cold winter.I feel that I have been born again.Rose Covington’s haiku, “Ballerina,” was published in last year’s LiteracyReview. She writes, “This changed my life.” Born in Brazil, she has lived in NewYork for almost six years. She studies English with Maria Neuda at the New YorkPublic Library’s ESOL Program at Riverside.