June 2000 - Once again we sent off various 5 and 6th graders into the world,
equipped with the bilingual skills. One of the speeches was delivered
by an emotional JV. Please take a look at what she said
and give yourselves all a pat on the back; what we're doing here makes a
difference.

Leticia Aceves

Hello, my name is JV and I m a sixth grader. Graduation
is a time to remember your life in education.

When I first came to Alianza, I was in the third grade. That first day
was the scariest day of my life. I didn't know how to speak English and
I felt like a stranger. I felt left out. It was a different world that
I wanted to join. I would sit in my group and watch other students
speaking in English with good accents. By that time I could understand
a little but I couldn't speak it. I remember thinking to myself, "Why
can they speak English and I can't. I remember looking at myself in
the mirror speaking English and I felt embarrassed. That year I only
spoke English with my family and my teacher. With my friends I would
only speak in Spanish.

That year I was the most quiet in the whole classroom. That way, I
wouldn't make a mistake in my English. In fourth grade in English
time I would speak in Spanish and copied my friend's work in English.

In the fifth grade I started practicing my English at home and in
school. It was important to me to speak with my friends and join that
world that I always wanted to be in. Now I'm proud to say that I speak
English and Spanish. I am still the quietest girl in class. Sometimes
I feel like I want to raise my hand and shout out the answer. I'm still
scared that I won't have the right answer but still, if you raise your
hand you've shared your ideas. You might not get the right answer but
you tried and you will learn. I've been given a voice and I'm free to
share my ideas and opinions because they DO matter! I can now speak in
English and in Spanish.

My life without English it would be like a girl without a brain. Now
that I know how to speak English I am proud to be me and nobody but me.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for
explaining me a word or two in English. My teachers for teaching me
something different that I will never forget. My friends for supporting
me and understanding me. Thank you all for very much for listening to
me.