Learner Spark: Bag of Dreams by Maya

The Literacy Center of West Michigan is pleased to share another excerpt of the Learner Spark, Issue No. 4, available as a free PDF download. Learner Spark is a learner-written magazine that features original stories created by adult learners across Literacy Center programs. Each piece reflects lived experience and is published in the writer’s own words, supporting literacy growth while honoring the voices and perspectives of the people at the heart of our work. Consider becoming a volunteer literacy coach today to support adult learners like Maria!

I am an immigrant, and my story began when I arrived to this country when I was just 16 years old. I didn't know the language, culture, the laws, or what my future would look like. I only knew that I had hope and a bag full of dreams that I took and carried with me. Everything felt new, scary, and uncertain, but I kept moving forward because I believed this beautiful land could give me a chance to build a better future and a better life. Those early years were not easy. They were filled with challenges, mistakes, learning, and growth. But they shaped my strength and taught be perseverance. 

Today, the center of my world are my three boys. They are my greatest pride, my motivation, and the reason I keep pushing forward even on the hardest days. The bag full of dreams I once carried has now started to become a reality as I watch my children grow healthy, safe, and begin to chase their own dreams. Every sacrifice, every long night, and every challenge has been worth it because of them. Their smiles remind me why I started that journey. Being their mother has filled my life with purpose, deep love, and a strength I never knew I had. Everything I do is for them and because of them.