The Literacy Center of West Michigan is pleased to share an excerpt of the Learner Spark, Issue No. 3, now 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 Elizabet!

The Teacher of Dreams 
by Elizabet Chacon Rodriguez

Once upon a time, there was a humble young woman who lived in a very poor country. Since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of becoming a teacher, and through hard work and dedication, she made that dream come true. But life in her homeland was difficult, and one day she decided to start a new journey with her small family toward the country everyone dreams of. 

The journey was not easy, but at last, they arrived. However, reality was tough: like many immigrants, she had to take on different kinds of jobs just to get by. Still, deep in her heart, the desire to teach never faded.

One day, full of courage, she decided to visit a daycare center where she hoped to find a better job. There, everyone spoke a language she barely knew. Despite her fear, she decided to try. At first, it was very difficult—she could hardly say a few words, and sometimes she felt that her coworkers laughed at her mistakes. But she never gave up.

Soon she discovered that in that place, she had the best teachers anyone could ever have: the children. They taught her to see the world with joy, innocence, and simplicity. With them, she learned that patience and love can open doors that fear keeps closed.

The children also began to teach her new words and phrases in their language. When she made mistakes, they gently corrected her, laughing together and turning every error into a lesson. In return, she taught them some words from her own language, and now those little ones can proudly say a few phrases in it. It became a beautiful exchange of cultures and affection, where both teacher and students learned from each other.

Today, after some time has passed, that teacher can now understand, speak, and read the new language. She continues studying every day, determined to keep improving. She knows there is still much to learn, but she also knows that with effort, study, and hope, she can achieve her dream—to become a teacher once again, in that wonderful country that welcomed her with open arms.