Inspiration

"E" is a 75 year old woman who stands about four feet tall and has an incredible smile.  She is always pleasant and the day just lights up when enters a room and greets everyone.  E is a petite woman and when she entered the Women's Literacy program three years ago she signed her name by placing her thumb print on documents.  Three years ago as E was watching television she saw a story about a woman in her 90's who was learning to read and write.  She felt that if this woman could do it then so could she.  At that point she joined the literacy program so that she too could learn to read and write.

E travels 1 1/2 hours  to the program every afternoon on the bus.  Mind you, this is no Peter Pan or Greyhound bus that she is taking.  It is more likely one of the chicken buses, which is just that, a bus the poorer people take to get around and on which they can bring their animals.  They are usually four people to a seat and as many people as possible are squeezed in:  sitting, standing, hanging out the door.  Think of an old yellow school bus with worn down tires, poor maintenance and belching black fumes:  this is E's commute everyday to the program, and after three hours at the project, her ride back home again.  Violence and robbery are common on the buses,  yet this committed tiny 75 year old woman rides the buses twice each day, everyday, because she wants to learn to read and write.  

After three years, E is now reading and writing at about a fifth grade level.  She is in the beginner's reading group, but really should be in the advanced group.  I've told her that but she just laughs and says, "O no, seño (a word used to indicate respect)!" and tells me that she is not that good a reader.  In fact, in the beginning group she is often reading ahead or helping the other women in the group.  

E is such a delightful woman and such an inspiration.  Would any of us be willing to follow her example of determination and commitment to pursue our dreams?

Hasta Luego