What’s Happening

Money. We need it for everything in our day-to-day lives and it’s essential to preparing for our future. However, it seems like we never have enough of it.

As an eighteen-year-old excited to attend Penn State, one of my main goals was to better my cultural competence. Coming from what I describe as a “cookie-cutter town,” I grew up learning a great sense of community and was surrounded by countless caring people who would drop anything to help at a moment's notice, but nearly everyone came from families like my own. There was very little diversity.

Five years ago, my spouse and I landed at Dulles airport on our way to State College. My husband had accepted a postdoc position at Penn State University, and I joined him to start a new chapter in our life.

After being encouraged by a friend to volunteer with the Mid-State Literacy Council, I began tutoring an ESL student the Fall 2020 semester.

The COVID pandemic has challenged all of us in different ways. Computer technology has become the lifeline for many families to remain in touch with loved ones. But how do you teach basic computer skills when you are unable to meet in person?

I went into my experience volunteering with the Mid-State Literacy Council with the sole expectation that I would be teaching the students; however, these individuals taught me just as much as I taught them, and that is something that I will cherish now and bring with me in my future endeavors, as well. 

I have taught at Mid-State Literacy Council since 2019. I began teaching the “English for Doctor’s Visits” course and since then, have taught three other semesters.

Being born in Puerto Rico, I was raised with Spanish as the main language in my household.