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

with my grandmother because they traveled to the city to work. She never saidno. It was a joy to have her grandchildren with her. My uncles used to call her LaVocina, The Speaker. Why “The Speaker?” Because every time she would visitthem, she would always talk and laugh loudly.She was Catholic and always attended church. She would tell us that lifewithout God is useless. She also said that the best inheritance from parents totheir kids is not money, houses, cars, clothes or gold, but the advice you givethem, and the morals and respect you teach them. Her love for others and heradvice had a healthy effect on her kids. They became very professional and hardworkingpeople who always enjoyed having her in their home.This is only a short story about my grandmother. I could write a wholebook on her life, from the time she got married until the time she died. Shepassed away one year ago, and we all miss her. We miss the person who talked andlaughed loudly all the time. We miss “The Speaker,” the person who gave us loveand encouraged the pursuit of happiness for her children and grandchildren.R.I.P., Carmelita Fuentez Tapia.Being Together77alejandro e. sanchezAlejandro E. Sanchez was born in Atlixco Puebla, Mexico. He writes, “I cameto New York when I was 13 and started to work at that age, in the restaurantbusiness, to help my parents. I have been happily married for 16 years, withthree daughters. My goal is to get my GED, to obtain better employmentopportunities.” He is a student of Avril DeJesus in the Brooklyn Public LibraryPre-GED Program at the Kings Highway Library. Eva Raison is the programcoordinator.