Reading is important. People often say that gold is valuable because it is wanted by everybody, but I say that reading is even more valuable because it is needed by everybody. Reading is changing me and my life. I remember when I came to the United States twelve years ago. I only brought my eyes with me. Although I had a mouth, I could not talk. I had ears but could not hear. I was like a frog that lived in a deep well. In my second year in this country, I had our first bab

In 1991, I was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I have always been fortunate to have a lovely mom and an incredible dad. I also have lots of really cool aunts, uncles and primos. San Luis Potosi is a charming colonial city; it is full of baroque art and cobblestone streets. Ever since I was young, I started to like everything about my state – also named San Luis Potosi – and my country. My dad bought me many books about Mexican history. I still like to read about it and m

My company closed in 2008, so I went to E.D.D. (Employment Development Department) to receive unemployment. They sent me to the Hayward Adult School Education & Career Center to learn to be a computer technician. I didn't know anything about this job and my English was not good. So I went to the Hayward Public Library to get some information and saw a card for the Literacy Plus program. I gave them call to make an appointment, and they checked my English spelling, reading,

Here is what it said on the Health Talk™ card that I picked during a session with my tutor: “An amazing characteristic of the brain is its ability to change and adapt. If someone is born blind or deaf, the brain structures usually intended for these senses can be redirected toward other functions. This ability is called plasticity, and is also essential for everyday learning.” The question on the card was: “In what ways are you adaptive? What has this allowed you to accom

I have been waiting a long time to vote in my life. It is something I have always wanted to do, but I did not know how. One day my best friend, Colleen, asked me if I ever voted. I told her no. She asked me if I wanted to vote. I told her I would like to vote very much. So I asked Mary, my tutor, about it. Mary got me an application. I filled it out and signed up. I registered to vote in October 2008. I voted the first time in November 2008 and that was four years ag