Student finally has an opportunity for an education
When Somying Hughes first arrived in America with her husband, she knew only a few words in English.
“I really wanted to learn English so I could communicate with others,” says Hughes.
Hughes grew up in a poor family in Thailand, and never received a formal education. Her parents could only afford to send her brother to school, so Hughes spent her days working on the farm with her parents and caring for her younger siblings.
“My favorite part of the day was at night when my brother would teach me to read and write in Thai,” Hughes says.
“I didn’t think I could make it this far, but the teachers … gave me the confidence to believe I could go to college and follow my dreams.”
Somying Hughes, Adult Education Student
She went to school for the first time in her life at age 28 when she began taking English as a second language (ESL) classes in the San Juan Unified School District Adult Education program. She enjoyed learning to speak and write English, and especially learning to read.
Hughes’ motivation and hard work drew the attention of San Juan ESL teacher and coordinator Dominika Michell.
“I really admire her self-discipline,” says Michell. “The Thai alphabet is so different from ours that I am amazed how students like Somying can learn English so well. She is definitely inspiring to others.”
Hughes began with a very basic ESL class in 2004 and worked up to the GED Prep class. She received her GED certificate in 2010 and is now working on her associate degree at American River College, part of the Los Rios Community College District.
“When I first started school, I was too shy to speak up in class and ask questions,” says Hughes. “I didn’t think I could make it this far, but the teachers were really supportive and helpful. They gave me the confidence to believe I could go to college and follow my dreams.”
Her next goal is to transfer to California State University, Sacramento and enter the nursing program. She says she wouldn’t have made it this far without the adult school.
Adult secondary education programs throughout our region, like the GED prep class Hughes used to springboard to higher education, offer a second chance at success to countless local residents each year. While students may have many reasons for not completing high school the first time around, their reasons for going back to school are usually all the same: to build a better life for themselves and their families.
That’s why expanding and improving adult secondary education opportunities is a major focus area of the Capital Adult Education Regional Consortium and its members.
“We serve 600-700 students each semester and many have little to no formal education like Somying,” says Michell. “I feel lucky to work for a district that values adult education.”
For more information, visit www.capitaladulted.org.
Written by Amanda Caraway
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Northern California | English as a Second Language – High School |
