Personal Story
English! Yes English, my second language. After awhile, I
received a call from the USDA Forest Service in Olympia,
Washington, to congratulate me on being selected for the
internship. Nervously, I accepted the internship.
When I arrived there, I met more students, who also
spoke Spanish. Yes, translators! To my surprise, working
there was not bad because my co-workers were very
helpful. I made good friends there. I have to say thanks to
them, and my family too, because they motivated me and
inspired me. After that, I worked in 2009 and 2010 for the
USDA Forest Service as a summer intern first in
Washington, then in Puerto Rico. After three summers
working for the Forest Service, I graduated, and got a job in
Tallahassee, Florida, where I live now. It is my first time
living away from Puerto Rico for more than two months.
Being here has been a challenge for me because of the
different culture and language. Every day I am exposed to
more English. The number one reason why I have to know
English is because I have to be able to communicate with
people with whom I work. My accent is the challenge for
them. They have probably thought: “That girl with the
accent! I could not understand a word she said.”
They do not know, that for me, each of them has a
different accent, and I have to adjust my ear before I
understand anything they say; but that is not an obstacle. I
may miss being in Puerto Rico, speaking Spanish and
hearing it all around, and I miss my family and friends, and
my culture, especially the food; but I have to grow
professionally and personally. I have been here in
Tallahassee for more than a year, and I have been meeting
great people. Speaking a foreign language can be difficult
for me and I am still working on it, but I always think that
nothing is impossible if you believe! It is just the matter of
doing something and looking for resources.
Nelirys Sanchez is a learner in the Leon County Schools Adult &
Community Education ESOL program. She is from Puerto Rico. Her
teacher is Matt Gowens.