Believing That You Can Believing That You Can
returned home I had a very emotional experience when my
grandparents took me to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall in
Escanaba. I saw the names of all the military people who
were killed in that war. It was sad to see so many names
written on the wall. Grandpa was crying as he stood there
looking at the Memorial Wall. He hugged Grandma and me
and said that it could have been his name on that wall. I am
blessed to have my Grandpa. We left and went home to
drop off some food and clothes. We then went to the Moose
Lodge for supper. Grandma told me someone was coming
to the Lodge to surprise me. It was my aunt. We all sat
down and had dinner and she gave me a beautiful cross.
After supper, we went home and Grandma helped me pack.
Later that evening, I went out in the woods to help my
grandpa haul some wood. Then, my grandparents took me
to the airport and waited until I boarded the plane. I really
had a very cool summer with my grandparents. Actually, I
had a blast!
David Woodard loves writing poems and short stories. He is a student in
the Florida State College at Jacksonville Learning for Living Program.
His instructor is Carolyn Floyd.
My Life
I was born in Eritra and raised in Germany. I went to
Germany from Eritra when I was about 12-13 years old. I
was on my own. I asked for asylum in Germany. I grew up
as an orphan with other kids. To live as an orphan made me
strong, direct, and a helpful person. I do not like people that
lie or pretend. I am a family person. When I was an orphan
in Germany, I started school in the 6th grade and went to the
8 th grade. Then I had to choose a vocational school. I chose
the carpentry school for 3 ½ years. I completed my school
with a lot of problems related to attaining my citizenship
and being homesick. But I made it.
I joined the work force, but because I was a refugee and
did not have the right to work anywhere I wanted, I started
work at Burger King (BK). I could work at BK, because it
was an American company, so I started there. At first I
cleaned floors, but because I wanted to do better in life and