Kenya native appreciates education opportunities

“I was living with my grandmother in Kenya before moving here to be with my parents. I was 12 and in sixth grade. It was so difficult for me to communicate with teachers and students. I didn’t speak English very well, and nobody knew my language, Swahili. For the most part, I felt all alone.

“I was the kid who sat in the bleachers while everyone else was playing their sports, because I couldn’t communicate with them. I was shy and nervous in class. My teachers were trying to get me to talk and socialize. They encouraged me to answer at least one question before class ended. It was hard. I never wanted to go to class because I knew they were going to ask me something, and I had to say something.

“So I began to read a lot of books, and I watched a lot of TV. I pushed myself to become more comfortable with English. I felt that if I wasn’t able to share my opinions with others, then they wouldn’t hear me. They wouldn’t know how I felt about things. Whenever we would have discussions in class, I tried to participate as much as I could. And as time went on, I became more confident.

“In Kenya, education isn’t accessible to everyone. So it’s more difficult for some people to get jobs and provide for their families. Coming here, I realize that I have more opportunities. And I have to take advantage of them to create a good life for myself. At the same time, I will not forget my family, my history, my customs, my traditions. It’s important to me. It’s a big part of who I am.”

— Sylvia Reema