Motivational, Inspirational
Publisher: Bayou Publishing
In
1992, Loreen Sumner was hired as the first English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher
in Duplin County, North Carolina, and, through the years, she has had the
privilege of teaching many students immigrating to this country from diverse
parts of the world. Oscar Mojica, a twelve-year-old from Mexico, was one of her
first ESL students. As a young migrant boy, he had quickly become disillusioned
by his surroundings in America, realizing his expectations of ever reaching
“the American Dream” would require overcoming seemingly insurmountable
obstacles. In 1992, due to the first influx of migrant students to the small,
rural, agricultural community in which he now resided, naturally there was an
adjustment process for all. In actuality, he did not receive a hearty welcome
or “bienvenido” from some of the American folks who had adjustments to make
themselves. He immediately felt a sense of not belonging in America.
Arriving
in America as an immigrant child was a difficult adjustment, and Oscar felt the
hurt in not being welcomed with open arms. Some Americans saw him as an
intruder, and it took him some time to adapt to his new surroundings. Along
with the hurt and sense of feeling like an outsider, he also suffered anguish
from having to leave his homeland and his beloved abuela, his mother’s mother.
He had departed from Mexico only at his mother’s insistence. His beloved mother
desired to alleviate the extreme poverty and harsh trials he and his younger
sister had suffered back in Mexico, so she brought her children to America, in
hopes of a better life.
On
the very first day Oscar walked into his first ESL classroom, his first ESL
teacher was more than intrigued when he stubbornly crossed his little boy arms
and said in a defiant little boy voice, “Le reto que me enseñe ingles!” Yes, he
dared her to teach him English! Immediately, she recognized from the look in
this young boy’s big brown eyes that he was hurting from a sense of rejection
from his new community. He was really informing her to not even try to make him
fit in or assimilate in a community that resented him just for being here, even
though they did not know him as the fine young man he was.
As
a new teacher who felt she could overcome any obstacle, Ms. Sumner
enthusiastically accepted his challenge. She immediately recognized that his
stubborn, determined personality would be a significant, contributing factor in
helping him overcome the enormous struggles he would encounter. Sensing that
his destiny was divinely ordained, Ms. Sumner was inspired to not only teach
him English but also to help him discover or follow his divine purpose in life.
She was just as stubborn as he was, and he soon would learn that she would
lovingly interfere in every aspect of his life until he reached his goals.
Oscar became not only her student but also her son. She became like a second
mother to him.
Today,
Oscar Mojica is thirty-nine years old, and his story covers an amazing journey
that ultimately has brought him to the fulfillment of a divine purpose for his
life in America. He is living “the American dream” as a Mexican-American, and
he is helping others achieve their dreams as well, in America. Today, with
tender emotion, his first ESL teacher recalls the very first time she met her
beloved student from over twenty-five years ago:
"As
a new teacher, when the twelve-year-old little boy named Oscar Mojica dared me
to teach him English, I eagerly accepted his challenge, and he became my
prodigy. I embraced his Mexican culture and taught him to embrace my American
culture. Today, he is thirty-nine years old, and he is contributing or giving
back to the same small-town community that not only accepted him but also
embraced Oscar Mojica. He became more than just my student. He became my son. I
became like his second mother. Proudly, I can say that he is making America
great again due to his amazing contributions to America. He is a blessing to
those who have had the privilege to get to know him. Oscar Mojica is not only
an amazing person of Mexican heritage, but he is just as American as I
am."
This
is his incredible story written by his first ESL teacher who accepted his
challenge when, as a twelve-year-old boy, he dared her to teach him English.
Excerpt
In
1992, a young Mexican immigrant student arrives to America and quickly becomes
bitterly disappointed because "the American dream" did not seem to
apply to him. His arrival was met with rejection by certain Americans; he felt
like an intruder, an unwelcome outsider. His first English teacher
enthusiastically accepted his challenge when he dared her to teach him English.
Today, Oscar Mojica is living "the American dream" and helping others
achieve their dreams as well, in America.
As
a new ESL teacher, Oscar Mojica was my first student in 1992. Due to the first
influx of Mexican migrant students to our small, rural, agricultural community
in Duplin County, NC, Oscar walked in my room as an 11-year-old migrant boy who
did not receive a hearty welcome or bienvenido from the American folks. He was
introduced to folks who immediately resented him for coming to America. He
dared me to teach him English, but I knew what he was really saying. He dared
me to try to make him fit in or assimilate in a community that resented him and
considered him to be an immigrant intruder. As a new teacher, I accepted his
challenge and he became my prodigy. I embraced his Mexican culture and taught
him to embrace my American culture.
Today, he is 38 years old and he is contributing or giving back to the
community that eventually, not only accepted, but also embraced Oscar Mojica.
He became more than my student. He became like a son to me. I became like his
mother. Today, he is making America great again due to his amazing contributions
to America. He is a blessing to those who have the privilege to get to know
him. Oscar Mojica is not only an amazing person of Mexican heritage, but he is
just as American as I am.
About
the Author
Loreen
Sumner is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She
taught high school for over twenty years and then received her ESL certificate
from East Carolina University and currently teaches ESL in North Carolina. She
is a
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