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

mario perez Finding Encouragement98Maybe the man thinks that I am going to cheat.I took the test, and when I finished it I was very nervous. I did not wantto give the test back to the proctor. He was still very angry and unfriendly to me.When he took the test from my hand, he was talking nonsense. Suddenly his facechanged and he said, “Congratulations! You did a good job.”I do not know how I got out. I only wanted to get home fast. When Ithink about that day, I remember first the face of that angry man; and second,my success in passing the test in English.At the library, they hung up a copy of my certificate. It says, “QualifyingCertificate in Food Protection to Mario Perez.” Every time I pass it, I smile.Mario Perez, born in Mexico, moved to New York City five years ago. He studiesat the New York Public Library’s Aguilar Center for Reading and Writing. TutorBetty Gerstein worked with him on this essay, and the site advisor is ElaineSohn. “I wrote the story of my first test because I want people to read it,” hesays. “If I can do it, everybody can do it. You have to believe in yourself.”