Changing Lives

 At the age of eight I was reading at a below kindergarten level.  I wish I could say, I wasn’t trying but every night I would sit at the kitchen table with my parents struggling to read but getting nowhere.  I wish I could say it was become I wasn’t born in the U.S. and because I moved here late in age but the truth is I arrived in America at the age of three and my mother even in our homeland had attained her college degree in American Literature.

I was struggling and I didn’t know why and worst of all, I didn’t see any way out.

Then I met Jodie.  She was a volunteer tutor from our local library.  She was a Harvard grad and had a management position in one the largest software companies in the world.  She had attained in her life what so many families dream of as they emigrate to the U.S. 

In my eyes she was the American dream.

She was patient, she was precious and in less than 2 years my reading was at grade level.  The following year I was recommended for advanced courses.  She changed my life and did what copious reading courses and hours of practice at the kitchen table had failed to do.

I later visited the public library where I had met Jodie and began tutor myself.  I wanted to impact anothers life the way Jodie had done for me. 

Jodie has now become a long time family friend.  Her friendship is a constant reminder of the magnificent changes we can make in people’s lives. 

She is no short of precious.