My first day as a volunteer went well

They surely are enriching my life. The administer and the staff teacher both said that the students are responding well to me. I have seen them grow in their reading and writing skills in just one week.

It sounds amazing. To see them excell and move on must be very exciting to see. I think this is very good for you. So happy to see you come from what you were awhile back. So sick and breathing so badly. I am very happy for you. The skies the limit.

It's an amazing experience. I have this student, Max. I sit next to him because he needs the most help. I make sure that he keeps up with everyone else before we move on. He read a whole paragraph today and only needed correction on two words. This means he is practicing a lot at home. Even the staff teacher commented on how the students have improved since I started teaching them. I get our lesson plan from the staff teacher and I follow through with it. She is teaching other students in the same room. There is another volunteer that has more students who are at another level. Then there are two more rooms with more advanced ESL students.

Thanks Bar! Today was fun too. I loved it. My experiences are giving me material for my writing. I am in awe of the defication of my students.

Exactly! I know this is a calling for me. Nursing was a calling for me, and that time passed. Now is a time for me to be productive again.

I am already so blessed by them. They work hard and want to learn. You can read a couple of blocks up to see just why I am so blessed. These people want what I take for granted. They want to get their education, and they need to speak and write English at a professional level so they can go to college after getting their GED. They have to speak and write English before they can take the GED class. We take it for granted who don't need to learn ESL.

It is a humbling experience. It does as much for me as it does my students.

I do to. I'm working with adults of different ages. Some are young adults and some are near my age. I know you enjoy what you do. I'm considered part of the faculty. Used to I had to use the student facilities and now I use that staff facilities for break room and stuff.

The teacher I am working with said I am sorely needed. She has one volunteer that has been there for 2 years. I will be working with the Rosetta Stone students and also the slower of the internediate students. The teacher can't help everyone because she is just one person so I will be taking about 10 students total off her hands. I got a little choked up once just because I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to be doing something so useful. One of my students is from Pakistan. She started out with zero English and zero education from her own country because she was not allowed to go to school in Pakistan. To see her already at the intermediate level just chokes me up when I know her history. One fellow has almost zero English skills. We don't even know how literate he was in Mexico. It's hard for him and he has been skipping because he gets discouraged. My teacher said he may come and give more effort now that I am there for him. That also humbles me. These people want to go to college. They want to get their GED so they can get into the GED program. Once they graduate they can attend college and make a good life for themselves and their families.