Literacy: A New and Wonderful Challenge

As a teacher and principal for over 60 years, I had convinced myself that I could meet any challenge given to me. My motto was, and still is, “Students don’t really care how much you, as their teacher, know, as long as they know how much you care.”

More than three years ago, I decided to retire to the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. My hope was to work in the Activities Department. However, as every Dominican sister knows, our ways are not always what God has planned for us!

I was asked to tutor our three Dominican Sisters from Iraq: Sister Aman Miriam Mansoor, OP; Sister Nadiya Shamees, OP; and Sister Zena Qeryagoz, OP in their efforts to learn English. Previously I had taught at the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit from the day it opened. I enjoyed 17 years of helping people to read English. This new challenge was one I will appreciate all my life! Nadiya, Aman Miriam and Zena were a teacher’s delight. Later, Sister Maryan Khume, OP, and Sister Ban Saaed, OP, joined us.

I am amazed with their dedication to learning English. Our first task was to learn to relax and enjoy the class, so I tried very hard to make our time together profitable and enjoyable. At the end of our first session, one sister thanked me for making English fun to learn. We have developed a caring and trusting relationship, and I honestly look forward to each class. Class time is taken very seriously. After little more than a year, one of the sisters, Aman, volunteered to read at Vespers to a somewhat crowded chapel. I sat in the back with tears in my eyes as she pronounced every word of the Scripture perfectly.

I am currently teaching Sister Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. She is a novice in our congregation, and Spanish is her first language. She’s a very competent student.

One of my greatest joys was the opportunity to work with Sister Mary Jean Birney, OP. She had a stroke eight years ago and was unable to speak. After much hard work, she is able to read aloud anything I give her. Recently she has begun to initiate table conversation.

I am humbled by the daily efforts of these women to succeed and I am truly grateful to have been given the privilege of working with them.