MEET carmen!

 

Carmen is a 15-year-old sophomore at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. She was nominated by her English Language Learner teacher, Jane Slater, and her Summer Search mentor is Haddie Lyons.

How did you feel when you got your Summer Search acceptance packet in the mail?
My interview was really difficult. I still wanted to be in the program though, because I know when things are difficult, it’s because something really good is going to happen later. Everyday when I would go home, I would look in the mailbox, and when I saw the paper from Summer Search, nobody was home, and I couldn’t believe it! I wanted to tell everyone right away! I didn’t expect it, because I know they wouldn’t choose everyone.

How does it feel to be in Summer Search?
The phone calls to make my doctor’s appointment, and my swimming lessons, and my travel – they are really, really difficult. I have only been in America for two years, and at home nobody speaks English. I try and try, and finally they understand me. I am going to Maine this summer, with Outward Bound and I feel nervous, but I also know it’s going to be amazing, because I know I’m going to meet myself. I feel proud of myself because everyone thinks that I couldn’t do this. They say it’s too much for me. But I can do it.

Why do you think you were chosen to be in Summer Search?
I feel Summer Search chose me because I try more than once. I like trying to solve problems, and help people. I know there is always a solution for everything.

Jane Slater, chair of the English Language Development Department at Sequoia High School, nominated Carmen for Summer Search because: “She’s very ambitious and she uses all resources to available to her to improve and be successful. Summer Search will give her the opportunity to experience things in the world that are just beyond her imagination. Her mother was concerned about letting her participate, and her parents came in to talk about it. You could see that this was an eye-opening experience for her whole family.”

Carmen’s mentor is Haddie, who is impressed by Carmen’s drive to improve herself: “Her family doesn’t speak English at home, but she has found ways to practice. She goes home and watches American television and repeats after it to learn. Her biggest challenge, I think, is taking a step back from problem solving, and actually pausing to reflect. I think her interview was one of the first times she had done that.”