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My Book

by OLIVE ST. LOUIS, April 09, 2009
(Manhattan - Aguilar)

Recently I read a book called Reading Changed my Life. Three women tell three true stories. Maria Cardenas is from Mexico. Daisy Russell is from the United States and Julia Burney is an African American. They tell the readers what happened to them.

Maria Cardenas
The first chapter is about Maria. There were many difficulties in her life; violence, abuse and poverty but Maria and her family worked hard. They went to school, continued to grow, and achieved their goals. Maria graduated from high school. She worked for an organization called Migrant Association Services for Children. This organization helped migrant workers’ children live a better life. Maria is proud of her family and grateful for their support. Everybody is so happy. Her daughter plans to attend law school. Maria has a better and wonderful life.

Daisy Russell
The second chapter is about Daisy. Daisy cannot read well. When Daisy went to school she was scared. She remembered that at school the teacher stood then in lines and gave them words to spell. Even a simple word Daisy spelled wrong and had to sit down. Everyone laughed at her. Daisy was ashamed. School was not for her. Daisy attended different schools between first and sixth grade. Daisy’s father was a heavy and violent drinker. Daisy and her mother were living in fear for their lives. Daisy was a terrified girl at the back of the classroom. Daisy’s mother took action. At a teacher conference the teacher suggested that her mother help Daisy to learn by reading newspapers. Daisy was 16 in the eighth grade. She was impatient to get away from the class where she was humiliated daily.
At age 18 a surprising thing happened. Daisy decided to tackle her reading problem. She had a copy of Modern Romance and she tried to read it. There were so many words she did not know. She tried to use a dictionary. Daisy got a job as a school custodian, to get a chance for more reading. Daisy would sit in the empty class and read “Marmaduke” the funniest cartoon. It was very short and not difficult. Reading became easier for her. In December 1979 Daisy took a job that would change her

life. She went to work at the Bendix Aerospace Company in Kansas City, Kentucky. She heard about company programs designed to help employees complete their education. She worked after her job and improved her reading skills. In 1989 she graduated from book 1 to book 2. In 1989 Daisy got her GED diploma. At age 44, Daisy Russell was a high school graduate. Daisy Russell was a champion of the literacy program. Daisy felt satisfaction at what she had accomplished.

Julia Burney
Julia was born in Mississippi. She is African American. She lived with her mother and father who had ten children. Two died in infancy. Julia was the oldest. Her parents moved North to Racine, Wisconsin to find better jobs. Julia went to school in Racine. Her parents were hardworking but they drank alcohol, which ruined a large portion of their lives. In Racine, there were electricity problems so many times Julia and her siblings grew up in the dark. During many frigid Wisconsin winters, they tried to stay warm with space heaters, candles and extra clothing. There were problems with money for feeding the family and other expenses.
Julia loved school. It was a refuge for reading her books. Aunt Ruby encouraged her. At her house Julia found a place where she could read and talk about what she was reading. Julia worked as a restaurant chief and then as a teacher’s assistant in a school. Five years later she was hired as a clerk by the Racine Police Department. It was her early dream to be a police officer.
Julia wanted all illiterate children in Racine to have a book in their hands. Julia and other police officers founded the Cops n Kids Reading Center program. They collected used books, got donations and found volunteers. Community leaders donated a building to Cops N Kids. Julie was famous. Katie Couric on the NBC Today Show interviewed Julia. She got contributions from Oprah Winfrey, Barnes and Noble and the Ethan Allen Company. Julia retired from the police force but her daughter, Vanessa, became a Racine police officer. The Cops and Kids Reading Center is a reality. Every morning Julia opens the door of Cops n Kids to the children of her community.
I am thankful for my teachers of Aguilar Language Learning Center who give me an opportunity to read and understand my English book. Thank you.

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