When I was in second grade, I had a really strict teacher, and he expected all of us to do our homework. One day I didn't do it because it was hard and I didn't know how to. I couldn't ask my parents because they were too busy working and I was afraid to disturb them. So I went to school without my homework and when he asked us to put our homework on his desk, I was already crying because I knew I was in trouble.

He made me and another girl stand in front of all the class and made us put our hands out and started hitting us with a ruler. It hurt so much, not only physically. After that, I always managed to do my homework, and if I didn't know how, I used to cry because I was so scared to go to school the next day.

One day my dad decided that he was going to bring us to the United States and so he did. When I first came here, I was only 12 years old and didn't speak a word of English. It was really hard for me at first. I felt like I didn't belong in this country. Even though I received a lot of help from some teachers, I was not happy. I felt out of place, like a rabbit surrounded by lions. I didn't like to get up and go to school every day because I felt stupid because I didn't understand what they were saying. My only comfort was that I knew mathematics. I knew math more than they did because in Mexico that is the first thing they teach you. And so, I felt like that was my only way to get even with my classmates.

Because I didn't know how to speak English didn't mean I was stupid. I could probe that image with my math knowledge. Because I didn't speak English, every time someone talked in English next to me I thought they were talking bad about me. I felt lonely and sad because the other kids stayed away from me. I was just a kid, so I wanted to play like the rest of them, but since I couldn't understand what they where saying, I felt like I wasn't wanted.

My high school years were not so great either. I had a lot of problems. I felt like I was not getting enough attention. I used to think that it was because of my English and/or for being a minority. I'm really not sure, maybe it was both.

We had an ESL teacher that I didn't like. He was disrespectful to the other Mexican students who didn't speak English. And that made me feel so mad. He used to make me and the other teacher's aide leave the room, only because we could understand what he was really saying in English and the other students couldn't understand his terrible comments about Mexicans. He used to say that we were dirty and asked us why we came to his country if it was so difficult for us. I was one of two Mexicans who had a class with him. He often made fun of us by using us as an example of what ignorance was.

But there were some really nice people there too and one of them is a teacher whom I love very much because he helped me so much in any way I needed. He was always there for me even when I needed a kick in the butt. He made me realize that I was important and that he cared for me and all my friends. It didn't matter to him that we were Mexicans or that some of us didn't speak enough English. He was always there for us.

After three years of high school, I dropped out and decided to get my GED through "Oracle." It is a home tutoring study program. It took me 6 months to pass all the exams and I graduated. On my graduation day I felt so sad and lonely because I wanted to graduate with all my friends that I went to school with, but that was not possible for me. I thought that graduation day was supposed to be a happy one, but it was not. Not for me.

I was so proud of myself for getting there alone. It was hard and now it has paid off. I liked working for my GED because I had the opportunity to work and study at the same time, and those are the two most important things in my life right now.

Soon after I got my GED, I began to work full time to help support my family, and I thought to myself, "This is set. I'm never going to get the opportunity to go back to do what I like the most, go to school."

When I started Marin Literacy Program, I studied the computer through a self-guided program and a lot of help from my tutor. I learned how to do word processing. Sometimes if I didn't have time during the week, I would come to the office on weekends and go over the things I knew and try to learn a little more each day. Thanks to my studies, my English is so much better. I continue to teach myself computer skills and have gone to a computer workshop.

I was brave enough to enroll in college and I like it a lot because I'm working during the day and going to school nights. I always get home really late, so I have to get up really early the next day and go to the office to do my homework there on the computer. Then after that, I go to work. It is really hard, but that is the only way I have to do it. There is no other choice for me because that is the only way it is going to take me where I want to go.

I'm well known in my community, so I take advantage of it and talk to people and let them know that it doesn't matter if you're Hispanic, Black, or any other race, you have to speak out loud for people to hear you. There are some ignorant people out there who make minorities like me feel less of ourselves, but they know better. If they would give us a little chance, we'll show them that we can be as bright and intelligent as anyone else.

I want to thank someone really special whom I love very much, and I know I wouldn't be here doing this if it wasn't for her. Thank you very much, my dear friend Sharon Lopez Mooney from Marin Literacy Program, and also my parents and family. Thank you.