A Journey of Resilience

In a heartwarming journey of growth and courage, I would like to introduce Esther*, a young lady with a less than easy beginning. Esther was shy when I first met her, navigating the unfamiliarity of her new home in the U.S., the challenges of learning a new language, making new friends and starting a new school. Everything was new. Even more difficult than that, she had recently lost her mother to illness in the refugee camp her and her family were living in prior to traveling to the U.S. 

The loss of a mother and then a move to a new country where the language and culture are new would be a struggle for anyone, least of all a young child. While these challenges could have broken Esther, she never let them and even though she has all the reasons in the world to make excuses, she doesn’t. 

She is a determined seven-year-old who joined the Reading Circle program in February of 2023. At the time, she only knew her alphabet. Even though Esther was well below reading level, she did not let that discourage her. Since her time in the program, Esther has jumped reading levels each time we had assessments. It has been incredible watching her go from struggling with comprehension to making 80-100% on multiple levels of assessments. She was also in the top three students in Reading Circle to memorize the most Bible verses last year and she has a smile on her face almost always.

I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with her and her five brothers and sisters, who are also in the program. Let me tell you, they are all full of joy! It’s a testament to their father's unwavering commitment and love for them. Raising six children as a single parent is hard to imagine for most. He truly deserves a medal! 

As weeks turn into months, Esther's growth and resilience are evident to everyone who knows her. She’s become more active in our discussions, volunteers to read to groups, and shows an eagerness to explore books on her own. On top of all that, she’s kind, funny, and compassionate. Esther’s always thinking of others. She loves to show her love by gift giving. She’s always coloring pictures and making bracelets to give to her friends and family. 

Reading Circle’s nurturing environment not only enhances Esther’s reading and math abilities, but also fosters her social emotional well-being. What a gift this program has been to her and what a gift having her in my life is to me! 

*Student’s name has been changed to protect privacy.

Written by: Ashley Germany
Edited by: Emily Thompson