Sowing Pearls ofWisdom Sowing Pearls ofWisdom - Literacy Suffolk

Hard Work Pays Off
By Mary Berrospi
y husband René and I had a good life in Peru but we couldn’t pay for our children
M
to go to the university because it is very expensive. For that reason, we came to this
country. For years we worked and sent money back to them. Now they are here
with us. This year my husband and I will be in this country ten years.
Our son René went to the university in Peru for seven years. He studied law and finished his
degree. He worked as a lawyer for two years and then he came to this country. He brought his
fiancée and was married in this country. Now they have a little baby.
......................
The people in this country are different
because in Peru you will never find someone
who will work for free or give their time for
nothing as our tutor does here.”
.....................
Our daughter, Vanessa, went to the same
university and graduated in 2003. She has a
Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education and
she was a teacher for one year in Peru. She came
to this country in 2004 and learned English at
Suffolk County Community College and
graduated last May. Now she is working in the
language lab at SCCC. She met a young
American boy and two months ago she was
married. They are very happy.
Our other daughter, Miluska, is almost finished with high school in this country. She is a
smart girl and we feel proud of her because all her life she was a very good student. She will be
graduating on the high honor roll. She also takes piano lessons and she is an excellent piano
player. She wants to be a doctor but we can’t pay for that because it is very expensive, so she will
be going to college for a few years. We’re waiting for our residency. We hope that will happen
soon. Then maybe she will go to college to be a doctor.
My husband and I have worked hard for a long time, but we feel very happy to see our family
together. We give thanks to God for living in this country. We had a good life in Peru, but we
had to work a long time to get what we have here in a short time. The people in this country
are different because in Peru you will never find someone who will work for free or give their
time for nothing as our tutor does here.
In Peru, Mary worked for eighteen years as a bank secretary. After that she had a restaurant for five
years. Then she came to the United States with her husband and young daughter. For the past ten
years she has worked two jobs to help her other two children pay for their education in Peru. Mary
now works full time in a high school cafeteria and on Saturdays she works in a hair salon. She and
her family are very happy to be in this country. (Bonnie Kisiel, tutor)
Surprise for My Family
By René Berrospi
oday I am writing about my daughter,
Vanessa. She is a nice daughter.
When she finished college in Peru
she was the number one student in practice
teaching. She taught for one year in the elementary
school. Later she came to the United
States with a student visa. She went to
Suffolk County Community College, where
she studied English and worked in the
language laboratory.
One day she met John who became her
friend. After two years, my daughter married
John. It was a good day of happiness for all
my family. At the wedding I wanted to give a
speech, but John and his family do not understand
Spanish. My tutor helped me to write
the speech in English. I practiced saying it for
two weeks and I memorized it. After I gave
my speech at the wedding, everyone was very
surprised. My two daughters, my new son-inlaw,
and his neighbor all cried. John’s brotherin-law
said that my speech made his heart fill
with emotion. I felt very happy to make this
surprise for my daughter and John. This is
the speech I gave:
Never Too Late
By Eddie Byrams
ello, my name is Eddie. I am a
H fifty-year-old man. I grew up and
went to school in the area. My life
behind the scene was a bit shameful because
of my inability to read and write. I won’t
mention the high school that let me graduate
with about a fifth grade education, but after
thirty-two years and the great help of the
Literacy Suffolk program and God, I am on
my way.
“I want to thank God for this happy occasion.
My daughter is going to start a new life with
her husband, John. My wife, Mary, and I love
our daughter very much. We hope Vanessa
and John will always love
and respect each other.
Love is the basis for
happiness. We are very
proud to welcome John
into our family. I know
that my father and my
mother are looking down
from heaven and are
sending their blessings.”
In Peru, René was a major in the Police
Department. He worked as an Instructor of
Personal Defense at the Police Academy for
eighteen years. After he retired, he came to the
United States with his wife and daughter. For
ten years he had two or three jobs at a time so he
could send money back to Peru for the education
of his other two children. Now René has only one
job in a meat market. He is grateful to live in
this country. (Bonnie Kisiel, tutor)
Today I am reading and writing at a higher
level than ever before.
......................
“My tutor helped
me to write the speech in
English. I practiced
saying it for two weeks
and I memorized it.”
.....................
One of the things I stress, to not only my kids
but to all I know, is to get as much out of
school as possible. It’s something you can take
all over the world. Just open your mind and
grab the information. It’s there for the taking.
14 READING FOR LIFE 2OO8 • Student Writing LITERACY SUFFOLK, INC. • Sowing Pearls of Wisdom 15
T