Geysha Prescott Hassan#50409in Panama in 2003, at the age <strong>of</strong> 26, I heard that my father had a terminal illness.It was disastrous for me, but I took the lead on the issue with the help <strong>of</strong> several<strong>of</strong> my brothers and my mom, even though she and my father already had separated.The final day arrived: March 27th, 2004. When I came home and walkedin the front door it seemed that he noticed the smell <strong>of</strong> my perfume because hesaid, “Geysha, baby, is that you?” I sat beside him on the bed, and then I started tochange his clothes, but his look was so different from other days. He was happy.Maybe that was the reason for the urgency he felt to see me.I started telling him, “You are the most important person in my life. I loveyou, and you love me, too. If you feel it is time to go because you are tired, you cango. I understand.” My little brother, Wendell, was behind me.Then Daddy took his last breath.Someone said that we should celebrate births and mourn when someonedies, but my opinion is the opposite. Why? Because we do not know what we willface in our lives.I felt sad, but I did everything I had to do when he was in my life.The most curious thing happened one year later, on December 18th, 2005,a week before Christmas, when my sonwas born in Bronx Lebanon Hospital.When the nurse put him in my arms, Iwas very surprised to see the number50409 on his bracelet. He was the50,409th baby. I said, “Wow! Those arethe same numbers Daddy has on his gravestone in my country.”Now 50409 is my special number. After I was in this country for threeI was very surprisedTO see the number50409 on his bracelet.Passing Down45GEYSHA PRESCOTT HASSAN
months, I was dreaming about my daddy. I felt like it was real, not a dream. I talkedwith him, and he was in front <strong>of</strong> me. But when I woke up, I said, “It’s not real, it’sjust a dream.” That morning, I bought a lottery ticket with his number: 50409. Iwon 600 dollars. I was very close with Daddy. Now he’s not here in the naturalworld, but maybe his spirit is close with me. Maybe he wanted to give me a present.God knows how, why and when things have to happen.GEYSHA PRESCOTT HASSAN Passing Down46Geysha Prescott Hassan, age 32, immigrated from Panama five years ago.She is the mother <strong>of</strong> two children. A CLIP student at CUNY’s <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> CityCollege <strong>of</strong> Technology, her teacher is Jay Klokker. Geysha Prescott Hassanwrites, “I think the ESOL class is very helpful to me because I would like togo to college to study Human Resources. My goal is to go back to my countryand give the diploma to my mom.”
- Page 2 and 3: The Gallatin School of Individualiz
- Page 4 and 5: CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONgallatin alumna
- Page 6 and 7: amanda rodriguez An Angel Without W
- Page 8 and 9: khady gueye The Best Job I Have Eve
- Page 10 and 11: IntroductionNext year, for the 10th
- Page 12 and 13: Abbey Fenbert was a student-teacher
- Page 14 and 15: thrilling and incredibly humbling.
- Page 16 and 17: Introduction15Author
- Page 18 and 19: LIVING INNEW YORK CITYkee fong liu
- Page 20 and 21: Josephine LamLifesaverlate one nigh
- Page 22 and 23: elationship to the black slaves who
- Page 24 and 25: Colin TriumphDo I Fit the Profile?W
- Page 26 and 27: Elena TarneaA MemorableWork Experie
- Page 28 and 29: neela arnoldyGettingLostears ago, I
- Page 30 and 31: YanMing WuNew York in My Eyesnew Yo
- Page 32 and 33: New York City was torn apart.Our sp
- Page 34 and 35: Rose CovingtonRebirthon the first o
- Page 36 and 37: Living in NYC35Author
- Page 38 and 39: yacouba yeo The Hunt 38stacy (xiulu
- Page 40 and 41: odies of animals. The last animal w
- Page 42 and 43: Ambiorix E. BaretA Passion for the
- Page 44 and 45: elif yigitMy Great-Grandpawhen I we
- Page 48 and 49: Qian (Michelle) YangSecret Pathsigr
- Page 50 and 51: Vasyl BarabashBorn in Ukrainethe vi
- Page 52 and 53: Cecilia RichettiI Am an IslanderI a
- Page 54 and 55: sky and said that to my grandma. Fo
- Page 56 and 57: Amanda RodriguezAn Angel Without Wi
- Page 58 and 59: Khazanah AwadMy Mom WhenShe Was a L
- Page 60 and 61: TELLING TALESTelling Tales59Authorn
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- Page 64 and 65: Olga TseytlinahHeWas a Stone Mane w
- Page 66 and 67: Lina Wu De ChecoThe Ugly Pencilone
- Page 68 and 69: Sybil SCOTTYes, My Pen Can DanceWhe
- Page 70 and 71: would not meet again. But they met.
- Page 72 and 73: Efim KrishtalHaikuCloud in the sky,
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- Page 76 and 77: Being Together75Author
- Page 78 and 79: with my grandmother because they tr
- Page 80 and 81: Diego lasluisadToSee My Father Agai
- Page 82 and 83: N.S.Thanksgiving Dayas a family, we
- Page 84 and 85: Hanako SakagamiSakurafor the Japane
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- Page 92 and 93: Finding Encouragement91AuthorFINDIN
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ana riosMy First Job,Far Away from
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mario perez“Take the Test in Span
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khady gueyeThe Best Job I Have Ever
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ming xian (cindy) linHelping People
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gabriela florestMyFirst Giftoday’
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ashanti robinsonEncourage YourselfE
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situation. I felt sad.Mr. Baker not
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Gaining Perspective109Author
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lined up. Behind me are beautiful d
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caterina gambinotChildrenTodayo be
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Kenneth PauljajouteReflections on t
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obert dolkowskiThe Sniffermy mother
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florence choiceOde to My Shiny Shoe
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Frankie mercadoOccasionallyOccasion
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Who am I? Who is the real me? I hav
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the key to success,the mistakes.Who
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PERSEVERINGlisa ng Journey to Freed
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water. The ring of light over Hong
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my mother. I told him, “Leave me.
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town. Perhaps my mother left the to
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and not harm my pets. I didn’t wa
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and listened to the radio all night
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minimum. Slightly embarrassed. Stil
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cynthia sotoiMiguel,I Want to Thank
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he had pulled my wife and son from
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Phipps CommunityDevelopment Corpora
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College of Staten IslandAdult Learn
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NYPL ESOL ProgramsOutreach Services