s an adult I've learned that education is very important, but as an adolescent and teen, my views were quite different.

I have a learning disability called dyslexia. School was very hard for me. Most of the teachers didn't take the time to help me, and they didn't believe me when I told them I studied for the test, but I failed badly.

The beginning of the end for me was when the teachers wouldn't help me, and they didn't believe me. So, why should I go on with my education? It seemed pointless.

That was a big mistake, because you can't get a good paying decent job. A diploma makes all teh difference in the world. Getting to this point was a long painful process.

After all, what is education? Education starts with the beginning of life, and you could say it lasts a human's life time. A person never stops learning, but as an adolescent I didn't know that.

hen I came to Charlottesville, VA one year ago, I didn't know the city. I didn't know people. Before coming I thought maybe I could learn English in C'ville.

And then one day I watched a TV announcement. I saw classes for G.E.D. Immediately, I said to myself, my son needs the G.E.D.

Then I saw English classes and then I thought, well I am doing nothing. I will study English. Before, I didn't know the importance of learning English. So I said to myself I will go to the school. I will see what happens.

When beginning the English class, surprise! People of many countries. They came to the U.S.A. They are audacious, they aren't shy. I saw their audaciousness and this was for me a challenge because I understood the need for the English language.

Now I have new challenges, for example to learn the computer and get a job. Also I can be learning about how to be healthy.

I'm be grateful for the help to surpass. Thanks to A.L.C.

t is a good idea to have a good education. It really shows your intelligence, and, when you submit it to your workplace, it counts as an achievement award.

I plan on going to college. Right now I am studying for my GED. As you may have guessed, I did not graduate from high school, but I am going back to school for a good education.

ducation is important for me. Education will make my way of life to be clean.

When I started my job I wondered even now because there are all things new for me. That makes me feel strange and I still was mad at myself because many people asked me ho! You are a young man. Why don't you go to school? I didn't know what I could tell them. Now I have nothing to do. It is hard for me to find a better job that I will like.

That makes me think and I can't find an answer and I don't know, how can I start to change my life? That makes me think education is important. Nothing is easy without education.

I'm always unhappy because I have not got any dreams for my future. That makes me feel bored. Every thing that I do I think is nothing. Now I really need education that will make a light and happiness in my life.

y name is Katherine Deihl. I am 42 years old. I am working on getting my G.E.D. I didn't care about school when I was in school, but now I do. I see that education is important to get a good job. When you are trying to get a good job employers look for G.E.D. or some kind of education to see if you are qualified.

Not knowing a lot of math and writing has hurt me in the past. I like learning all the math and writing and language I can. I am working so hard in class. I really enjoy math for the first time ever. My tutor in my class helps me a lot without looking down on me if I don't know something. I don't know why I have not tried to get my education before now. She makes me feel like a person with the ability to learn and she praises me when I do well. Also, she helps me understand the work when I don't know it.

I tell people that an education is important to have and they should sign up for classes. Class is not boring. It's exciting to learn different things. If I know something I pass it on to others so that I can help them in the long run.

Getting my education is going to make me feel good about myself and proud that I accomplished something for me. Also, by coming to class I know that I can do something on my own.

Amy, my tutor, has made an impact on my education. I know that I will be able to better handle any situation that comes my way.

n my entire life, education is there. It has no end.

For me personally, I don't have any end in education yet. Even though I was educated in my country before I came to the United States, I still want to learn more about the country and its education system, as my country's is different. Education is very important to me because I know that my future life depends on it. It is also important to me because it can help me to take care of my parents, friends, needy children, and especially my mother, after all the effort and love she has for me in taking care of me. I have learned many lessons from education. These lessons are valuable to me. Starting with languages, I can speak, read and write French. I'm very proud of myself. I have also learned to make good choices, such as being obedient to my parents, and being a hard worker. Also, I encourage others, especially children, to take education seriously. Education is not that easy for me, but with courage and a lot of effort, I did succeed. So to others who are now entering into the education system, or those who are already in, I encourage you to be strong, no matter what difficulty you are facing, because with education, everything is possible.

I have learned a valuable lesson. I regret that I didn't get my education when I was young. My brain would have been faster. When a person gets older, he doesn't think as fast. Now when a person is young, you can learn faster.

I work for the city. I try to encourage my coworkers to enroll in the Adult Education program. Every time a black man gets hired to work for the city of Charlottesville, I ask: did you finish high school. If they say no, I let them know about the GED program. When I started working for the city,I would ask why some of the men were leaving so early every Thursday. They said to me that they were studying for their GED. I asked what do you do? They said just sign up and go. So that is what I did.

We have GED class every Tuesday. I haven't missed a day since I have been going to class. With all the benefits you can get by getting education, it's hard to understand why someone would not want to get an education.

think that the education is very important because make that everyone to be better. In someones country, the education is not so important, because the people think that the money had to be for firearms, or war and not for the children's education or for school construction.

I think that all people have right to receive education, even though this is poor or rich. The education is fundamental in the development of the people.

I think that never is late for learn.

ducation is the most important thing in my life, and in the life of everybody. I must speak about education. I am educated. In my country I am judge. I have state exam. All my life it was education. I come to America with no forwarding address or vision of my future. Another opportunity came along and changed my life.

I had many lessons in patience, resolution, and optimism through some difficult times all these 5 years. My knowledge and experience in my country, Serbia, was just for there, not for America. I did not speak English. It was difficult times for me. Now I go step by step. But I always look forward, and my plan is to stay here forever, learn English continuously, help my family, help myself, and work. Every new day I see, I hope it is better and better. The highlight in my life and my education is that I have the best family. They encouraged me to learn English.

Another person in my education was my first teacher for 3 years, and she was very proud of my whole family. Our family was very smart and educated. Stefany always said, "Smart parents - smart children." Her life is helping other people, and educated yourself and people. Most of the year she travels the world, and keeps on helping people. I am happy to have found someone who is my role model for my life-long education.

hy do I want to get an education? I have an eighth grade education so I decided to get my GED. I enrolled in a class to accept this challenge. I had not been in a classroom in over 35 years. I was at a loss that you can't imagine.

I started out with Algebra. "Whoa!" It blew my mind at first. Then I sat down and studied. I really gave it 100%. My mind became like a container. Then I started on my essay.

Every day is a new challenge for me. I can't learn enough. My mind is absorbing everything I learn.

My education is Number 1 on my list of to do's. It has given me something positive to put there instead of negative. No matter how old you are you can learn something new. I do every day.

When I'm released I will continue my studies and will enroll in some college and business classes. My daughter has given me a lot of inspiration. She is a second year nursing student.

My mind is a challenge and today I am challenging my mind. I'm controlling my perception, feelings, will, memory, imagination and intelligence.

ducation is very important to me. Education makes a difference between some people.

The family education allows me to be polite and obedient. Usually the family education have to lead me to get good-natured before my parents bring me to school.

To school, and gradually I will get perfect education and very well educated.

High education allow me to be smart, to think aloud, be very sensible for my age.

Education is important because it allow me to get very good job and earn high salary by month. My life will be easy-going. I could be rich man, so it is easy for me to choose pretty and beautiful girl to celebrate a rich and wonderful marriage. Thank to education I can build a biggest and comfortable building for me and my family, to buy large money cars. Me and my family will have a best life.

Everybody will respect me, and take consideration for me. I will be useful to my country. I must defend the interests of my country.

Everybody will be trust me. When election come, the population elect me representative of my country and a governor.

Education is important. It is a way to be successful in my life and to succeed in doing everything I want.

ducation is very importnat to me because I can find a good job.

I have learned a lot of new information.

I tell my family education is interesting and important for you.

My teachers have made a positive impact on me.

hen I came to the U.S., everything was different from Serbia. The first two years were very hard for me. I couldn't drive a car, and I couldn't understand one word of English. When I started working, my son-in-law drove me to my job. We started at 8 am, and my job finished at 2, 3, or 4 o'clock. My son-in-law worked unjtil 5 pm. I had a long wait every day because I couldn't communicate with anyone because I didn't understand English. Now I take English class and I understand, but not very well.

My daughter had made an American friend, Miss Lorine. When she introduced me to her, Miss Lorine wanted to know how to say "How are you?" in Serbian. My daughter said it is "Kako si." Miss Lorine said, "OK, that's easy." The next time we met Miss Lorine said "Krava si" to me. My daughter and I were surprised and laughed Miss Lorine wanted to know what she had said. We told her that "Krava si" means "You are cows." After her apology, Miss Lorine suggested that we continue learning English, and she would not try to learn our language. English is hard, but I keep working at it. Now I love living here. I have many friends, and I can communicate. I visit the doctor alone. I am very happy and proud.

hanks U.S.A., thanks ESL, for learning program. I think it is very important to get education for getting a good job, relationships, culture, and my future. Second: education is important to me because I have learned that it accomplishes a lot of things. So I encourage everyone, young and old, to get education.

Like my story, I came to the U.S.A. in August, 2006. I had education in the Democratic Republic of Congo and especially in refugee camps in Tanzania, East Africa. I learned social work for two years in high school. But I was very doubtful when I came to the U.S. I didn't understand English. About my first language, French and Swahili. At school I learned French, Flama, and Swahili. I didn't know any information about English or U.S. culture.

When I came to the U.S. I was able to introduce myself and to know some culture of the U.S. I'm sure my English will be better until I will get my GED and continue with my education. Thank you ESL for your process and God bless the U.S.A. Amen.

nglish extends the range of knowledge. People spend a lot of money to study English in Korea. Especially early education abroad has been increasing steadily. People believe that English education abroad is the most effective investment these days.

When I moved here 6 months ago, I had a plan to bring up my children as bilingual. I always emphasize the value of language education. On that point, America is a good place to study English for children. I hope my children take full advantage of their great opportunity here in Charlottesville.

So why is the education of English important? English has become the most widely used and important language in the modern world. It is in the first place. (The Summer Institute for Linguistics, SIL, 1999 Ethnlogue Survey. After weighing six factors: number of primary speakers, number of secondary speakers, number and population of countries where used, number of major fields using the language internationally, economic power of countries using the languages, and socio-literary prestige, Weber compiled the following list of the world's ten most influential languages.) It is used in business, on the internet, in films, and music. Those who live in modern society must have a wide cultural experience. English will help you and your children to get knowledge and values.

There are many great advantages to learning English. First, you can find a lot of information in this world. Many documents on the internet and in class used English as the basic language. Second, you can communicate with other people in many parts of the world by using this language. Third, you will have a good job or a chance of promotion. Many companies highly value those who speak English very well. Fourth, you will make a big contribution to the world. You can help somebody or some organization as a volunteer abroad.

How about your opinion? Do you agree with me? If you have some different views, you probably suggest two views about one's mother tongue and other languages. You should not forget your mother tongue. In my case, I am always Korean. English is very important. It helps break down language as a useful skill. In other words, various languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish are also gradually becoming the globalizing language. I think that all languages are very important. But I would like to recommend English as a second language. Because it costs less and offers more profit than other languages.

Back to my case, my children will become adults who are bilingual -- can speak two languages equally well. Sometimes it is hard to maintain the proper balance between a foreign language and one's mother tongue. But I will try to give my children a balanced language education. For many reasons, my children have a great opportunity in Charlottesville.

went to school in Graysville, Va. I was in the first grade when my father died. He died the day my sister was born. My mother was sick and couldn't work. She told us we would have to leave our home and go to Charlottesville to get help from her family because she could not take care of the five kids. My mother put me in school in Charlottesville. I went to school there through the second grade.

When my mother was able to work, she got a job at The Home Laundry. My mother then had to separate us because she could not care for us even with family help. I went to live with an older couple in Covesville, VA. I stayed there and went to school When I turned twelve years old I went back to Charlottesville to live with my mother because the couple's daughter was mean to me and jealous of me because I worked so hard and did everything that the couple asked me to do.

In school, my teacher told my mother that I was not learning as fast as the other children and that I needed to see a doctor. My mother took me to a doctor and the doctor told my mother that I could not learn in a group. I left school at the age of twelve after only reaching the third grade. My mother made the decision for me to stay home and take care of my younger siblings.

I got married when I was fifteen and went to work at City Laundry and worked there for fifteen years. I learned how to fold and iron clothes. I wanted to learn more and to use newer machines so I got a job at Brown Laundry. I worked there for ten years. The people were very kind and taught me with patience and kindenss. I was very thankful.

After Brown Laundry I worked in the housekeeping department at the University Hospital. I cleaned rooms. I had to learn how to use the chemical cleaners because they were harsh and toxic. I learned how to sterilize rooms after patients left. I learned how to wear masks and gloves. I graduated from the program with a certificate.

I then moved to the X-ray department transporting patients. I graduated from that program with a certificate also. I had to learn how to lift patients and push wheelchairs, how to dress patients who were large or unable to move well. My supervisor asked me if I wanted to go to school at the hospital to learn more about reading and writing. I said "yes" right away. I stayed there for 39 years until I retired.

The valuable lessons I learned through working were how to get along with people, how to do my work well, how to spell, write, and count money. I have learned that you have to have an education. The more education, the better job you will get. My supervisors were kind and encouraged me to get more education. I always received the highest evaluations from my supervisors. I am still going to school and still learning. The more I learn the better off I am.

have a teacher who has made a difference in my life. Her name is Heidi Gordon. The first time I met her was December 22, 2006. When I first saw her, I thought she is very young, but to my surprise, I found out that I am half her age.

She is a joyful lady who identifies with her students problems of learning. She comes close to each student at his or her level. She challenges my life when I see her teaching people who do not know any word of English and who even have a different alphabet. Then, after three days, those people begin to speak English. They know how to write and spell their names. After two weeks, they understand; they can write and even read English. She is always happy and ready to help.

Every day I look forward to meeting her.

I have learned through her the importance not only of teaching, but also of having a heart for the ones you teach. She is always concerned about every student and that motivates each student.

When I arrived here, I did nnot have a means of communicating with my family members, especially my husband, who are in Africa. She took me to the library, we applied for a library card and then I was able to use the internet. In my life the computer has always been important. I do not know how she knew, but she contacted somebody and now I have a computer and I am connected to the internet.

That is the heart of a special teacher and a parent. Because of her impact, I am determined to study for a Master's Degree. Because she encourages me, for sure I can make it.

She has a special way of doing things and of teaching. Last, but not least, one of the students had a birthday on January 12, 2007. There was a cake and we celebrated her birthday. She was very new. That touched my heart. One day, I would like to be like her, to encourage and motivate students. Heid has made a positive impact on my learning now and onwards. She is a precious and special teacher. May God bless her.

ince I have been locked up here in prison, my attitude has changed towards my education. It is important to me because it makes me a better person. I really feel there no limitation on my ability to learn.

I have learned different skills from my Building and Maintenance class. The skills I have learned there will benefit me in the future. I am also working on getting my GED so that I will be able to achieve the goals that I have set for myself.

I come to school with a positive attitude, willing to learn, and seeking guidance. By doing this, I'm setting an example to encourage others. By my example, I hope someone will make an effort in taking the first step.

Mrs. Gathright, Mr. Harmon, and their tutors have made a big impact on my education. They gave me a chance to expand my learning skills. They shared their knowledge, experience, patience, time, support, and unconditional love. Most of all, I thank Jesus for this success.