What’s the Lesson for Today?

I’ve had an epiphany this past week—about teachers in our education system. I have recently begun volunteering with the East Texas Literacy Council. I am not working right now and I needed to fill my free time. I have been assigned a young girl named Julia who has moved to the states from Mexico only a few years earlier.  With an 8th grade education, she is 17 now and doesn’t want to return to public school for fear of being too old compared to the other students. “Totally fine I told her”, as she explained that she has decided to take the GED instead.

I was not at all prepared for what lay before me. Not only is Julia at an 8th grade level, but she still has difficulties with the English language. It isn’t long before I realize that this volunteer work is going to be a very trying experience. I am assigned to Julia to help her better prepare for the essay part of the GED. I thoroughly enjoy writing so I have looked at this experience as an opportunity to do more of something I love.

Julia works at a local fast food restaurant in the evenings. She lives with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law who help Julia take care of her young son, Thomas. I soon learn of her situation. Several months ago a fight started on her street. To make a long story short, Julia’s husband of over three years was shot and killed.  Can you believe that? Hardly a year has passed. I can’t fathom—I mean I pined over my last break-up for two years! Julia has since come to the realization that she will have to work much harder in life to support her and Thomas. Granted, she lives with her in-laws now, but they won’t be around forever. She told me today that she wants to visit her husband’s grave, but she can’t bring herself to do it. So, here she sits in front of me. She has this look on her face that says, Is this all worth it? Am I ever going to learn this material? How will I survive without my only love?” I want to hold her hand so tightly and reassure her that she is going down the right path that if she stays strong, she will succeed.  But she needs to remember her life isn’t going to be as easy as that of others.