Sr. Dolorita Martinez and Maria Isabel Hernandez

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Meet Maria Isabel Hernandez, formerly from El Salvador, and a student of our ESL program. Maria didn’t let the COVID-19 Pandemic deter her from her hopes of learning English and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen.

I was privileged to encourage and help her until we were quarantined and was not able meet with her. Maria’s dream to become a citizen of the United States came true because she worked hard and had the courage to peruse her dream.

How intimidating do you think it is to try to take a test in a foreign language that you are just beginning to learn in order to navigate at work, with little time to study; while being a fulltime mother and homemaker?

The citizenship test requirements are quite challenging. Deciding that she was ready to go in by herself into the US Citizens and Immigration Services for the test and later to be sworn in as a citizen took determination and courage. Congratulations Maria!