Wright Here - Wright Now - Spring Issue 2

Wright Here—Write Now Issue 2: Adult Education Student Publication

A message from the Dean Continuous improvement is the personal effort that is applied daily to improve your life and the lives of others around you.

As we close out the Spring and Summer, soon going into the Fall Semester, Wright Adult Education thanks all our students for selecting Wright College to learn the English Language, complete the Illinois High School Diploma, and enter a college career pathway. We want to encourage you to continue pursuing your education Journey with us this Summer and Fall. A special thanks to our dedicated instructors and staff, who come to work every day to create student learning opportunities.

"Embrace every challenge as a chance to grow, every setback as a setup for a comeback, and every moment as an opportunity to shine. Your journey through college is not just about getting a certificate or a degree; it's about discovering your passions, shaping your character, and unlocking your potential. Believe in yourself, stay focused on your goals, and remember that the greatest achievements often arise from perseverance and determination. You've got this!"

Best, Senior Dean Steele

Dean’s Message …...

Ode to Spring ………

Student Submissions…………

Crossword Puzzle….

Eid-al-Fitr Celebration………….

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Ode to Spring -By Tamara Franco The Kingdom of God is like A flower garden in Springtime.

When Spring arrives It knocks on all the plant’s doors.

But not all plants are ready to Face the sunlight and grow.

Some seeds want to keep sleeping, While others are ready to wake up.

Some other plants in the Spring Garden Like to grow and bloom during the night, Becoming the Queen of the Night, Singing and dancing under the moon’s light.

The Spring Garden Is immersed in life, Fragrances, and colors Growing together in diversity and wonder.

The different nuances of colors Dress up the plants.

The fragrances emanated by The flowers in boom awaken the senses.

The seeds That did not wake up this Spring, Will do it in the next one.

So, be patient with yourself and others.

Remember that, The grape seed must be Planted in fertile soil Before drinking its wine.

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Sunflower—by: Rama Symbala ESL 5—K. Castronovo view the vibrant flower as a symbol of peace and resilience. After the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in 1986, Ukrainians planted sunflowers in the devastated area. The flowers not only represented renewal and hope, but they helped extract toxins from the soil.

land and urges to put sunflower seeds in their pockets (so that flowers would grow when they die on Ukrainian land.

ONE FACT: A Ukrainian woman confronts Russian soldiers in Henychesk, Kherson region, and asks them why they came to our

“. . . The Spring Garden is immersed in life, fragrances and colors growing together in diversity and wonder. . .

Pumpkin Flower— by: Tania Texta ESL 5— K. Castronovo is a flower considered as food in many cultures of the world. It is edible just like its fruit (the pumpkin), the seeds (seeds) and the tender stems.

Pumpkin flowers can be male or female and are used interchangeably; however, it is the female ones that later become fruits, so the harvest of male flowers is referred (leaving some for pollination).

As it is rich in nutrients, the pumpkin flower favors children’s growth and eyesight. Likewise, its medicinal properties help fight osteoporosis (bone weakness), flu, urinary, heart and developmental problems of the baby during pregnancy (note: statement not verified medically)

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Willow Sunday—by: Irina Voevoda —ESL 5 K. Castronovo On Willow, or Palm Sunday we recall the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before His passion. This day is considered one of the twelve Major Feasts of the liturgical year in the Byzantine Rite. It is always celebrated on the Sunday before Easter and includes the blessing of willow branches.

The blessing of branches usually takes place before or after the Divine Liturgy. The blessed branches are then distributed to the faithful as they come for anointing after the Liturgy. It is not uncommon to see Ukrainians striking one another on the shoulder on Willow Sunday with the willow branch and reciting the verse: “It is not I but the willow branch which strikes you to remind you that in seven days in the Great Day!” Depending on the country or region, a variety of branches (palms, willows, flowers) are blessed for this celebration. Pussy willows seem to express well the liturgical symbolism of Palm Sunday. During the winter the willow tree seems to be dead. Yet, with the coming of spring, it sprouts and gives a sign of life. The willow branches bring to mind the wood of the Tree of the Cross, while the buds, a sign of new life, remind us of our own glorious resurrection. The blessed branches should be carried home as a sacramental, as a visible symbol of Christ’s presence. They should be entwined on a crucifix or used to decorate as icon. They serve as a “sign of salvation,” and a “pledge of protection and blessing” during the coming year as invoked by the second Prayer of Blessing.

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CITIZENSHIP CLASS AT WRIGHT COLLEGE by: Andrea Contreras am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional citizenship class experience I had under Mrs. Margarita Valerio’s guidance. I'm really thankful to have had the opportunity to attend this free class because the knowledge that I gained really helped me to feel confident to answer any question. I'm pretty happy that I passed the test with flying colors, and that's all thanks to all the necessary tools the teacher gave me during my time in the class.

I particularly liked the emphasis on making the class interactive by allowing everyone to participate and practice the different parts of the citizenship

test, such as reading, writing, history and more. I also found the mock tests and exam preparation sessions invaluable in building my confidence and identifying areas for improvement prior to the test.

I personally liked the teaching style and willingness to answer all my questions, which made the learning process enjoyable and engaging. I want to thank my teacher, Mrs. Margarita Valerio, for making this experience so positive. I am very grateful for the support and guidance she and the college provided.

Flowers in Morocco — by Rakia Elbaghdady— ESL 5—K. Castronovo is rich and renowned for its beautiful, stunning flowers known for their multiple uses.

Among these are the citrus flower, the flame flower, the orange flower, the blossom, saffron flower, and the damask rose flower - This latter stands out for its exceptional qualities, and holds significant importance due to its numerous benefits making it a sought-after international product.

Damask rose flowers are grown and harvested in a small valley in Atlas Mountains of Morocco, then distilled in a factory after being spread out on the floor to prevent

rot and maintain freshness. After distillation, the resulting rose water and oil water are 100% pure. The rose water can be used in cooking to add some delicious flavor to dishes. Additionally, it is used as a beauty product; it is an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging product that helps reduce irritation and remove excess oil from the skin.

As for the rose oil, It is a moisturizer that helps nourish the skin and it is usually used in perfumery pharmacy.

In conclusion, Morocco's roses are special and valuable. They are loved for their beauty, scent and healthy benefits. They are big part of Morocco's culture and will always be cherished.

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SPRING—by: Lacheleg –K. Castronovo

Houssame—ESL

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the arrival of spring heralds a time of transformation and renewal across its diverse landscapes. As the temperatures begin to rise, the arid plains and majestic Atlas Mountains awaken with bursts of vibrant colors and fragrant blooms. The desert regions, once barren and austere, come alive with the soft hues of wildflowers and the sweet aroma of blossoming cacti. Communities across the country celebrate the season with traditional festivals and gatherings, rejoicing in the abundance of nature's gifts. Amidst the bustling markets and lively streets, the sight of almond blossoms dancing in the warm breeze serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and resilience of Algerian spring.

By: Anatolii Pozdniakov—ESL 3—K. Castronovo ccording to tradition in Ukraine, on Easter, people bring food to church in baskets to be blessed by a priest. There are Easter eggs. The eggs are painted different colors. There is a special cake called paska.

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CONVALLARIA—by: Tetiana Korol—ESL 5—K. Castronovo is the season when winter ends and nature comes alive. In spring, the days become longer and the nights shorter. When the snow melts, new leaves and flowers appear on the trees and bushes. Flowers bloom everywhere - snowdrops, violets, dandelions…

But here I want to describe the flowers called Convallaria. White flowers in the form of little bells, 10-15 pieces on each stem. They have on incredible smell. Flowers bloom in late April-early May. Convallaria is the favorite spring flower of

the late English Queen Elizabeth II. Convallaria its a symbol of girlish purity, modesty, and integrity.

In traditional medicine, it’s used for diseases of the heart, stomach, urinary system and a number of other diseases and conditions. The ancient Romans believed that convallaria was the drops of scended sweat of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, which fell and the grass when she was running away from Faunus, who was in love with her. This flower is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Eid al-Fitr is considered by Muslims to be a beautiful thing that comes after the month of Ramadan...

By: Ibrahim Elfakhar—ESL 3— K. Catronovo Eid al-Fitr is considered by Muslims to be a beautiful thing that comes after the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims perform their acts of worship and branches of their worship, and read the Qur’an, such as fasting from sunrise until sunset.

It is considered obligatory for every Muslim at the specified age of 15 years, and it is not obligatory for children and women at the age of the first day of birth when the family gathers and prepares an iftar meal consisting of food and tea, bread and the like.

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SAN PATRICIOS BATALLON By: Amparo Toro ESL Level 3 K. Castronovo

the war between México and USA 1846-1848 for the Texas territories. John Riley, an Irish immigrant was the founding member of the San Patricios Battalion during the spring of 1846.

The Irish escaped the poverty from their country the USA looking for a better life. In that time the American attitude towards the Irish and others immigrants was racial religious prejudice. The majority of the Americans were protestant, they saw the Irish people with resentment being lower socioeconomic and also for being Catholic, they were violent and destroyed their churches. A the same time, Texas got its independence from Mexico.

The war was declared in spring of 1846 between México and USA over the territories annexes of Texas. Ulysses S. Grant in his memories wrote “this was the most unjust ever waged by a stronger nation against a weaker nation”.

USA troops were 40% immigrants poor and less educated and other difference between them was religion to, the American officer not only did not allow them to attend Mass in Mexico Churches, they forced to attend Protestant services.

Knowing this General Antonio Lopez San Ana convinced John Riley to fight with them and promised them they would receive the hospitality and good faith from a Catholic Nation.The Battalion of San Patricios was found they grow up to 200 men. Despite the efforts of the San Patricios their fate was sealed at the Battle of Churubusco, an estimated of 75 of them were captured and executed by hanging.

The San Patricios Battalion was recognized by Santa Anna who said “with a few hundred more like them, we could have won the war”.

México lost the war but, won a friendship that until this day is celebrate every, March 17 with Parades and music.

There is a Plaque with their names in memory and gratitude, describing them as a Martyrs.

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By: Jadis Verona—ESL 4—K. Castronovo What do you do in Chicago in Spring?

Although I really like winter, I love spring because of the rebirth of nature. I love flowers and plants, I like observing he different colors of tulips. Visiting Michigan Avenue is a mosaic for the eyes.

My goal this spring is to spend as much time contemplating and admiring the nature that means life.

Also, I want to buy plants for my home because it serves as decoration and gives a different touch to the place,

I remember the first time I visited Chicago it was in the Spring and I fell in love with its gardens.

… I remember the first time I visited Chicago—it was in the spring and I fell in love with its gardens...

By: Wilson Avila—ESL 3—K. Castronovo Los Judios During Holy Week, several activities are carried out that have endured as traditions, one of the popular is among "Los Judios" in Honduras. Judios has become a quite popular tradition in Honduras, the activity consist of some people dressing up clothing like worn on Halloween and going out to the streets to ask for money.

This tradition is popular in several Departments, mainly in villages and towns. The activity is carried out when Holy Week is celebrated,

where they seek to instill a fun culture among tourists who usually visit the Beached and rivers.

Los Judios walk through the streets with attractive clothing, capturing people`s attention.

They also gather in square and center, mainly on Easter Sunday to say Goodbye to Holy Week.

This is an activity that has been done for many years and it is said that the first to carry out this dynamic activity were the members of the Christian and Catholic Churches and then it would became a custom that would last.

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By: Ballouk Fatima Ezzahrae ESL 4 — K. Castronovo

Berber New Year, is also known as “Yennayer” is a special celebration for the Berber people living in North Africa. It’s the beginning of the agriculture year and it’s celebrated on January 12th.

In Morocco, during Yennayer, families gather together to share traditional meals, singing, dancing, and creating an atmosphere of togetherness. For example, in the place where I live in Errachida, Morocco, we make couscous with seven kind of vegetables and we hide inside the dish a date, when we finish eating the person who finds the date is the luckiest person of the year. It’s a beautiful way to honor Berber culture and tradition.

I hope this gives you a deeper insight into the Berber people, our flag, language, and the wonderful celebration of the Berber new year.

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By: Na Chen—ESL 3—M. Wolfe Na Chen’s Story In ESL Class It was one year and half ago when I moved to the US, I decided to live with my husband who studied here.

It was not an easy decision.

At first, I was afraid to speak English because it was challenging for me who just came to a country where many people from diverse backgrounds speak English. I found it difficult to catch up with what other people talked about although I had learned it for years during which I spent a long time on understanding reading materials rather than practicing speaking and listening sections.

I had to change and get myself accustomed to living here. The first and imperative thing was to familiarize myself with English, from a reading language written in the book to the one used in my daily life.

Around one year ago, I fortunately knew my English teacher, Mr. Marcus Wolfe, who has been teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) class. He is very passionate about teaching and always shows kindness to us. I feel honored to get the opportunity to enroll in his class where everyday I learn a wide range of knowledge like slang, daily conversation, general grammar, connected speech, etc. My teacher has good humor and he also adopts multiple teaching methods to make his class attractive and instructive.

Besides, In teacher’s class, I also know some friends who are skillful in their own fields, hardworking in English studying and very friendly to others.

Multinational interaction broadens my horizons and perspectives, which makes my life full of energy and freshness.

Without ESL class, I would not have gotten In touch with many lovely people: my teacher and my friends. From Monday till Thursday I feel motivated to learn English in class and get myself immersed into it. I notice some changes in me, among which the most obvious one is that I have overcome the fear to interact with others in English and become much more confident when using it.

Furthermore, I realize that in our life we occasionally encounter kinds of obstacles that at the very beginning we thought they could be big hassles and hardly be conquered. However, if we are determined to do it firmly and also learn to get help from people who are experienced and willing to share with us, those problems will be solved in the end.

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Easter Recipe—Sunshine Sweet Potato Casserole By: Alice Fisher (R12D GED / J. Hoyt) Sweet Potato Casserole (enough for one 8-10 inch casserole bowl) Sweet potatoes (enough to fill bowl ¾ full) One half stick butter, melted Raisins (to taste) Pecans (crushed, raw) 1 cup Brown Sugar (powdered): 1 cup White Sugar (powdered): ½ cup Milk (1 cup) Marshmallows (small) Vanilla Extract (1 T) DIRECTIONS -Mix all together, except for marshmallows, on medium speed. Potatoes should not have lumps.

-Spray cooking bowl with a non-stick spray. Poor mixture into bowl. Arrange marshmallows on top.

-Place in oven at 350-375 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until marshmallows turn brown.

-For a stiffer casserole, mix for less time and cook longer, or until a wooden toothpick, when inserted, comes out clean.

-Serve hot: Serves 4 -6 people as a side dish.

Sunshine Sweet Potato Casserole can be both a side dish or a dessert dish (when using marshmallows and raisins as a topping).

Sunshine Sweet Potato Casserole can be used for Sunday dinners, Easter Dinner, Fourth of July outings and cook outs.

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My Life Journey By: Stanislaw Warda / R12D GED —J. Hoyt

Recently, I thought my life is pretty boring. Every day looks the same. When I wake up, I go to work. Then, I come back from work, eat lunch, and then I work more. I don’t feel fulfilled.

I think that a long road trip would be very fun for me. Once, when I had my new car, I drove from Chicago to the east coast. Now, I think I will drive to San Francisco.

I’ve only been to California once in my life. I visited Los Angeles, but I found it a little disappointing. I visited Venice Beach in Los Angeles. I thought, oh my: It has such a high pier.

So, this time I will visit San Francisco. I’ve been told that the northern part of California is more interesting. In fact, a past teacher told me that San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the United States, during the summer and the fall.

In my imagination, I see the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. There is a special street In San Francisco that has trolley cars. They are famous. Besides that, I will drive to see the mountains and landmarks, like the Alcatraz Prison. The prison might be a gloomy place, but it is, nevertheless, famous.

When I looked at the map of California, I noticed I am close to Washington State. On the way driving home, I would like to visit Seattle, with its famous fish market and Starbucks Headquarters.

This journey back to Chicago will be also exciting. On the way home, I can visit Wyoming and Yellowstone Park.

I will most likely have to leave my car for a long time in the auto repair shop to prepare for this special life trip. It could be costly, but I think it is worth it!

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Gardener’s Paradise—by Daniel Perdomo/R12D GED -J— Hoyt Two years ago, I and my friend started gardening. Everything started with a Memorial Garden. A Memorial Garden is for a loved one who has passed away. This is a way of remembering them by planting a small garden for that person. In that first Memorial Garden, we planted red and yellow tulips.

For this garden, we are making what we can an elevated garden. We use bricks and stones to make a raised garden. This raised garden is about two feet off the ground. In the bottom of the raised bed, the gravel helps the water to drain from the garden when there are rain storms. In addition, an elevated garden helps keep insects and other small animals from destroying our plants.

In our elevated garden, we plant tall plants and flowers that grow at least a meter in height. The first time I planted an elevated garden, we used brightly colored flowers. The second time we planted an elevated garden, we experimented with blues and purples. This year, we will try to plant native plants, which will be more grasses and smaller flowers. I will mix flowers into the native plants.

We use our Imagination when we plan our gardens. Our gardens bring us joy.

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Starting a Healthier Diet By: Naomi Lopez/R12D GED —J. Hoyt I feel unhealthy because I have low energy.

I would like to get my energy back. I have been taking prescribed medications and I feel they affect my energy level.

So, I will be researching how to increase my energy. I have a doctor’s appointment. I been looking online to get ideas. I use search terms like, “healthy fruits and vegetables.” I am looking for vitamins to supplement my diet.

Stress can damage energy levels. So, I have also been strategizing how to experience less stress.

My goal is to have more knowledge about causes of low energy and how stress affects our energy levels. I think overall it is always good to have knowledge about what is best for your health.

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New Beginnings By: Olha Zavidiia—ESL 4—F. Salas year 2024 will be very unusual and not similar to the previous years of my life. I will become a mother. To be honest, I am little anxious about how it will all turn out.

There are some reasons that make me worry. First, this is my first child.

Second, America is a new country for me- I have been living here only 1 year. But I am sure , that I will cope, because I am really motivated. I know that I will have the most beautiful and intelligent daughter. And for her I am ready for anything.

“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the ... life is easy as an essay—divided into paragraphs... story here.”

A New Beginning—by: Jalila Daif - ESL 4—F. Salas power comes when you decide to start from the beginning.

First of all, some people think that life is hard. They are right because if they want to make it hard they can.

The second thing, life is easy as an essay and the last one divided into paragraphs.

You only have the right to organize your paragraph.

we know that we fail sometimes, but this is a new beginning for us and yesterday’s mistakes are now just lessons to teach us about life and get a new experience.

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A Fresh Start in Your Life By: Maricarmen Rodriguez ESL 4—F. Salas First, every day, we need to put on a fresh new attitude.

Your know why yesterday’s attitude will get old.

Second, if you don’t start a fresh and a new, then you’ll bring all the negative from yesterday into today. You need to do something to get your day started right, I mean.

Third, if you’re not a person who can manage a long time, then take a few minutes and lock at yourself end pray and just say, “God help me. I want to put on love. I want to get a better job, etc.”

Finally, every morning when you wake up, you need to say, “Father, thank you for this day.” Thank you to all the people who are putting on a fresh new attitude.

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My Wonderful Educational Experiences at Wright College By: Wilfredo Sanders—ESL 4 F. Salas First, when I came here to Chicago, I never imagined that education in terms of learning the language of this country would be so easy to access.

Especially the easy registration. It has been a great experience here at Wright College, especially that is very

complete education program, study material, and qualified teachers, at the same time. Finally, I would like to express about this country, I tell to my friends in my country, I was in Chicago—it welcomed me and gave me the best tool to start my life here, I met new people and gave me the gift of learning— it is language. Thank you!

...It has been a great experience here at Wright College, especially there is a very complete educational program...

By: Yasmin Salem—ESL 4— F. Salas Things I Would Like to Change About Myself, the World, and the Environment. you want to change the world you have to start changing yourself. First, for me, I want to be more confident by learning English, getting a good education. Second, I want to stop from hesitating.

will try to protect the working class in the environment around me by raising the work wage to match with the fast inflation and give them medical insurance and create working princi-

ples to protect the workers even in private sector.

if I can change something in the world, I would get rid of all the weaponry, so no more innocent people are killed, no more wars, and the Humanity will live in peace.

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Culinary Arts at Chicago City Colleges The Associate in Applied Science degree program in Culinary Arts is a sequential learning program taught over four semesters.

Visit here for

Culinary Arts—by: Luis Yepez—ESL 4– F. Salas always liked the culinary arts. My first job in the United States was in a Mexican food restaurant. I worked for two years, then I went to work in the kitchen for retired people. It was a good experience. Every day I could learn a new recipe. My favorite recipe is Lo mein: first, we cut the vegetables, carrot, red onion, chives, mushrooms, paprika and then we prepare the sauce, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, cornflour, white pepper, salt, ginger, then In a saucepan with boiling water. We cook the spaghetti for three minutes. We can choose the protein—chicken, meat, shrimp, to finish in a wok we add the vegetables, then the protein, the noodles and the sauce, to finish our recipe.

more information. https:// catalog.ccc.edu/ academicprogramrequirements/ culinary-artsaas/#text

RELATED DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES Culinary Arts, Basic Certificate Culinary Arts, Advanced Certificate Culinary Arts, Associate in Applied Science

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SRINGTIME RECIPES—By: Maria Rivera—ESL 4—F. Salas best food recipe for this summer is Ranchero Beans, as appetizer with a delicious guacamole and flank steak, with beer and seasoning. First, we start with the ranchero beans. We cook the beans.

We cut onions and cilantro, sausage with separate clamato, and beer and cilantro.

THE MAGIC OF SPRING By: Carolina Zapata ESL 4 — F. Salas

It’s the time where the colors of nature light up, the temperature rises, we can enjoy more the sunlight, and the afternoon becomes a wonderful experience. The days are longer and we enjoy the beau-

At the end we combine with the flank steak and guacamole – it’s the BEST meal!

tiful sunsets. We wear light clothes—the heavy and big coats that we wear in winter will not be necessary any more. With the spring arrival, colors begging to sprout everywhere, the flowers bloom and the world becomes a festival of color made by nature.

Seeing all these colors encourages us to do more things, enjoy a walk and exercise in the park.

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SPRING —NEW BEGINNINGS BY: Juan Mata — ESL 4 — F. Salas Well, my old grandfather told me, “Dear Manolo, (he used to call me like this - it's a friendly Manuel nickname), spring season is the best season of the year to start something.” Why? Because we are going through the most difficult season of the year due to the weather, that is winter We spend excessively, we eat excessively, but it is also true that we have loved excessively, and that is precisely powerful enough for our spirit to fly, our mind to fly and to plan, inspire, and definitely taking advantage of the energy of the new year. “Let's begin to undertake the best life plan possible.” My grandfather used to say.

My abuelo favorite part of Vivaldi's piece, was the “The Four Seasons”, is precisely about springtime, melodious, complicated and highly energetic. He used to associate it with a poem by a great Mexican poet Jaime Sabine, “Spring begins dressed in tender green. There are new mornings. We even find the voice of lovebirds more nourished and the air that was cold is now fresh. I imagine that the oaks and the roses and with them feel the gradual change from a harsh winter to the new flowering season.”

I hope to extract from every spring a little of its energy to regenerate life in trees and flowers. Taking in its melodious breeze like the first season of Vivaldi to breathe deeply in the face of adversity as an immigrant in this great country and live in this wonderful city of Chicago, the new experience to finally pursue my own American dream.

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How I Learn English — by: Madinabonu Amambaeva — ESL 4 —F. Salas My experience in learning English is amazing. I continue to learn something new, increase my practice, expand my vocabulary. For example, I am speaking a lot at this time in my life.

is everywhere for me now. I hope very soon I will be able to speak freely and confidently thanks to this practice!

I decided to introduce English into the field of entertainment. Now I watch movies and TV series in English, play games where English is taught. English

“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”

… I’m enjoying my new life in a new country...

A Fresh Start in my Life—by: Maria Kisilova—ESL 4—F. Salas

name is Maria and I’m from Ukraine. I used to work as a teacher for more than ten years. And, to be honest I got bored working in Ukraine. But when I came to the USA I started wondering what was the difference between our educational systems.

I found an available position to work at a school and since that time it was a new start in my life.

I’m so glad that I can use my experience and knowledge in a new way. every day I meet new people in my life and teach students while using new methods.

I’m enjoying my new life in a new country.

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By: Melted Dinc

Transitional English 6

J. Kalsow

In 10 years: I hope I will have learned English.

I will take an MRI exam and get a certificate.

I will get a good job.

THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENTS FROM TRUMAN COLLEGE FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION! Language Arts for English Language Learners Course

This semester, we've been studying some of the history of Chicago as it related to the film Oppenheimer. We've read a series of articles about nuclear weapons, their history, who has them and how many there are. After working on vocabulary and comprehension activities, we wrote our own thoughts on the question, "Do nuclear weapons provide more security or more danger in the world?" We share our thoughts with you here.

—Instructor: Daniel C. Stein Truman College Adult Education Student Submissions Follow

Afterwards, I want to take the citizenship exam and become a citizen.

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Spring Session—by Tanya Korol — ESL 5— K. Castronovo is the season when winter ends and nature comes alive. In spring, the days become longer and the nights shorter. When the snow melts, new leaves and flowers appear on the trees and bushes. Flowers bloom everywhere snowdrops, violets, dandelions… here I want to describe the flowers called Convallaria. White flowers in the form of little bells, 10-15 pieces on each stem. They have on incredible smell. The flowers bloom in late April-early May.

is the favorite spring flower of the late English Queen Elizabeth II. It is a symbol of girlish purity, modesty, and integrity. traditional medicine, it’s used for diseases of the heart, stomach, urinary system and a number of other diseases and conditions. The ancient Romans believed that convallaria was the drops of scented sweat of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, which fell and the grass when she was running.

By: Sam Chu—D. Stein—Truman College Nuclear weapons were first developed by the U.S. It ended World War Two by two atomic bombs detonating in Japan. By now, several countries in the world own nuclear weapons.

They are aimed to ensure country's safety. But do nuclear weapons create more security in the world? I don't think so.

Despite the existence of nuclear weapons, the world is still filled with

conflicts like war. In human history peace and war alternated time by time. Once out of control the use of nuclear weapons would be a disaster.

All countries should make a promise of not using of nuclear weapons. Governments should engage to eliminate nuclear weapons step by step. This matter is important because the world can't suffer the destruction of nuclear weapons.

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By Hugo Alban—D. Stein—Truman College Well, absolutely nuclear weapons create more danger in the world. I don't really think they make us be safe, perhaps with all the events that happened around the World War II it seemed like the best and only option to stop the war. But I think now is a very high risk that many countries have a complete arsenal of these weapons and who knows if one day a dispute occurs between two countries and they use it that's why I don't think they create more security in any way.

We know because maybe it is happening right now in the conflict of Russia and Ukraine, a great example is that. We know Russia has that kind of military power and who knows we all know how is the president of Russia and it not might be a real surprise that he could make that decision.

This matters because countries that do not have enough capacity to make these weapons are under risk that they cannot defend themselves and that's why no country should have nuclear weapons, it literally could bring the destruction of all we know.

by Aleksandra Cerazy, ESL Level 4 —A.Kosmas I'm from Poland and I love spring in my country.

There is a lot of green and it is beautiful ! There are a lot of flowers and you can hear birds chirping everywhere. This year is special because spring came very quickly. After a warm March, we had a hot April. In Poland, it is 96 degrees F now.

Trees and flowers are blooming everywhere! I love the spring season in Poland.

I wish you all could see it.

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By Leticia Casajus—D. Stein—Truman College Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer has brought into the spotlight the race to build atomic weapons and showed the argument that they have saved millions of lives. It is necessary to consider every nuance of the matter.

The two American atomic bombs devastated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with an explosive yield of 15,000 and 20,000 tons of TNT, respectively. More than 200,000 people were killed and maimed; ground temperatures raised over 4000°C. It also caused radioactive rain and people that survived near the bombings still face the long-term effects of radiation suffering from cancers, miscarriages and deformations. In the US, residents of Los Alamos in New Mexico -the town where the Manhattan Project and the development laboratory was located- have been exposed to radiation due to the Oppenheimer’s Trinity test. Families have documented high rates of illness in multiple generations. Although the US government created programs to financially help people living near nuclear tests, in the case of New Mexico, they have not been included. When we examine the bombings and their aftermath, along with other serious nuclear power and radiation accidents and testing, like Chernobyl and Nevada, I don't see how they can assure national security or international peace. Contrary to the argument that nuclear weapons serve as a deterrent, they in fact, help to create a circle of threats and violence.

This can be seen when we observe that nine countries now have nuclear weapons. The global nuclear stockpile is around 13,000 weapons between intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) The modern nuclear weapons in US and Russia are more than 80 times stronger than the bomb of Hiroshima. “Low-yield” weapons are being built to be more usable, this makes them even more dangerous and likely to be used. Furthermore, in some countries, the exact size of their arsenals are unclear, such as China, North Korea, Pakistan and Israel, but it is believed that they have been steadily growing. Despite the signing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted in 2017, the implementation of it is still suspended.

This matters because we will suffer terrible consequences if any of these weapons is detonated. To create a safer world, it is urgent to raise more awareness about nuclear tensions and threats, even though, total elimination is not likely to happen soon.

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by Aleksandra Cerazy ESL Level 4 A.Kosmas

By Shakhlo Vafobekova—D. Stein—Truman College Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. It could destroy an entire city, killing millions of people and the long-term effects of such a disaster could threaten natural habitats and the lives of future generations. The danger of nuclear weapons is due to the very fact of their existence.

The articles we read show how dangerous nuclear weapons are all around the world. They tell us about the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and how many countries still have these powerful weapons today. It's clear that nuclear weapons are a big threat that could harm us all. In my opinion, we need to act fast to stop this danger. We should work hard on to get rid of nuclear weapons and make sure no more countries get them. This way we can keep ourselves and future generations safe from this scary threat.

While some nations may think nuclear weapons make them safer, they actually make the world more dangerous. More countries having them, accidents happening, or conflicts getting worse are all big risks. That's why it's crucial to work on reducing and removing nuclear weapons completely. This is the best way to make sure there's lasting peace and safety everywhere.

I'm from Poland and I love spring in my country.

There is a lot of green and it is beautiful ! There are a lot of flowers and you can hear birds chirping everywhere. This year is special because spring came very quickly. After a warm March, we had a hot April. In Poland, it is 96 degrees F now.

Trees and flowers are blooming everywhere! I love the spring season in Poland.

I wish you all could see it.

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By Mahvash Kamouneh—D. Stein—Truman College

word "weapon" when joining "nuclear" rings a bell in most people's minds. In the 20th century, brilliant scientists suggested reactions that were far from the simpler chemistry that had been practiced until then. History reveals their regrets over their discoveries, although it was already too late for them to stop the progressive tests tried by the governmental authorities. of those scientists are Albert Einstein, Leo Szilard, and James Franck, who were the first developers of explosive nuclear reactions in theory and on a laboratory scale. They tried to stop experimenting with their findings on humans, but they failed.

Then disasters started to arise, and it seems that today it is almost impossible to reverse the stream.

that nuclear weapons can, in any condition, be safe. They are the most destructive means that humans have ever invented. The more alarming fact is that maybe governments, despite whatever enormous money and manpower they have spent on the technology, might be willing to ban or bury what they already own. But this is neither easy nor safe anymore because when the nature of a rare chemical element like uranium is so significantly converted and activated, it is impossible to return it to its previous balanced status. I can only hope that no further developments in this issue will happen in the future. desperately wishing to see a stop to any nuclear threat very soon.

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By Wilfried Wood—D. Stein—Truman College nuclear weapons are dangerous and the idea it can destroy the world is more than scary. Indeed, the destructions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still in the memories and even in the flesh of people who live nowadays in these towns since they are still facing terrible diseases caused by radioactivity. But, I strongly believe that these weapons have helped keep a relative peace and security worldwide, avoiding major global conflicts. of a mutual destruction has obviously helped keep peace among countries with nuclear weapons. Indeed, any use of nuclear weapons would result in a significant counter-attack. These weapons discourage major fights between strong nations which are often pushed to talk and negotiate peacefully instead of fighting together. it's important to keep fighting against nuclear proliferation worldwide: the thought of rogue states like North Korea or Iran possessing such weapons is an absolute nightmare. In fact, we can easily imagine these states today frightening their neighbors (South Korea on the one hand and Israel on the other), tomorrow attacking them and, in doing so inducing the Western replica and then the Chinese replica etc. to cause WW3.

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By Vladislav Dementev—D. Stein—Truman College ond World War. weapons have terrified most people since their creation. One bomb capable of destroying cities with a population of 30 million instills the idea of the inevitable death of humanity. despite this, human nature is more complex than it seems. The creation of such powerful weapons of mass destruction stopped bloody wars between the super powers. Countries such as the USA, France and England have become guarantors of peace on the planet. Of course, conflicts continue to flame on the planet, but their scale cannot be compared with the destruction and losses of the SecMy Life in Ten YearS

by Ivonne Ocampo— ESL 4 F. Salas ten years, I hope that my husband and I will be working on the same schedule. I want to have a nice job with a good pay. I hope our home will be already paid in full. I also hope my

believe that at the moment the main task is to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, even entire countries can resort to nuclear blackmail, such as Russia or North Korea.

The danger of countries in the Middle East acquiring nuclear weapons, as the most unstable region on the planet, also inspires deep concern (favorite phrase of European politicians).

daughters will graduate, that they can find a nice job and they get married with nice people, perhaps with two wonderful grandchildren, one from Diana my oldest daughter, and one from my youngest daughter. My dream is that we have reunions all the family, and have nice moments together and remember old memories and create new ones all together.

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WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT WRIGHT COLLEGE

BY EI2A —ESL 2— M. Valerio’s Class 1. I like the teachers

KVASS

by Roman Parubochyi ESL 3— Castronovo Kvass is one of the oldest drinks.

Kvass was made 1000 years ago in the in Kievan Rus (territory of modern Ukraine). There are many different recipes of kvass, but I will tell you one of the oldest recipes. And by the way, it's very easy.

For this you only need: - Brown bread; - yeast; - sugar; - clean filtered water; First you need to fry the bread in a pan. Then it should be cooled and placed in a glass jar, pouring a little water there. Then you need to add a little sugar to the water, mix it, grind a little yeast and add it to the water. After that this solution should be poured into a jar with bread.

Kvass has a very good effect on the digestive organs, killing harmful bacteria. It regulates metabolism and the work of the central nervous system, improves the activity of the cardiovascular system, and also helps to improve appetite!

That’s way many doctors recommend people to drink kvass.

2. I feel comfortable and safe

3. I like the free classes 4. I like the beautiful campus 5. I like the free market 6. I like the technology 7. I like the teaching style of my teacher, Mrs. Valerio 8. I like my classmates 9. I like the college because it is close to my home 10. It is safe!

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By Cristobal Soler — ESL 4—A. Kosmas the change in weather now in the spring, I hope to get more energy, study, feel empowered, and practice my English more.

Also, I want to visit some new places like the lake and forests. I will prepare some special recipes and bring along some beverages, too! I like Spring!

...I hope “To catchto the get reader's more energy, attention, study, placefeel an interesting empowered, sentence and practice or quotemy from English the story here.” more

My loved Spring — by Carmen Rodrigues — ESL 4—A. Kosmas was dark, gray, weathered agonizingly cloudy— cloudy as if there was not hope around me everything was gloomy sadness like a sharp pain submerged in hopelessness, and suddenly all that intense darkness began to leave, opening the way for your arrival — and you arrived!

tle morning. Rays are called the great sun light of day and little by little the the radiant yellow, the green hope, the red passion, the blue of the sky and everything we need colors that beautiful canvas called rainbow that reflects t a new life of God our Lord after that the terrible flood.

great Spring. Bringing us the green of hope and diversity and crowds of the vivid and intense colors in my life. that no matter how deep, dense, and dark the night is, after it arrives is a lit-

my wonderful Spring for remembering me that no matter how dark and difficult the circumstances are, you always shine with hope.

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A New Beginning in my Life — My Life as a Migrant

by Fermin Andrade — ESL 4—A. Kosmas Before January of the year 2022, I had a quiet life in Venezuela (My country of origin) and a hectic job, hectic for what? Because I worked in a securities transportation company and was the regional manager of the company, I had to be working from Monday to Monday, I have three children: Stephanie, already married and who gave me two beautiful grandchildren, emigrated from Venezuela to the United States seven years ago, I only saw her through video calls; Steven is still single, we call him the travel agent, since he was in Malta, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and now emigrated to the United States three years ago; Daniela, still single, emigrated to Ecuador and spent two years living and working in that country. It was not until two years ago that my wife and I met her again in Colombia, after which, my wife Raiza and I decided to emigrate to the United States to reunite us all and thus flee our country.

For two years I have lived in the United States with my family, except for my mother and my three sisters, who live in Venezuela, I saw the Glory of God during my journey to this country and I still see it, surrounded by people who have helped me. and they have opened doors for me, here I have enjoyed myself with my grandchildren, I have enjoyed my children, I still miss being with my mother and sisters. It consoles me that I have been able to help them from here, sending them money, clothes, shoes and some gifts.

I don't know how long God will keep me in this country, but I do know one thing, that my gaze and faith is focused on Christ Jesus, my children, my home and my family in Venezuela are in his hands. I long for my country, but I hope to God there will soon be a change in it and God will allow me to return, even if it is for a visit, according to his will.

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Petrykivka Painting Technique—by Olha Chirkova—ESL 3—A. Kosmas Petrykivka painting is a Ukrainian cultural heritage with deep roots that reflect the soul of the Ukrainian people. This painting technique originated in the village of Petrykivka, in the Poltava region of Ukraine, in the 18th century and remains one of the most well-known Ukrainian artistic styles today. Its themes mostly depict nature, flowers, birds, animals, and scenes from everyday life. Initially, people painted with their fingers, but later learned to make brushes from cat hair, held together

under a cat's neck. These brushes remain the best for this technique. In 2013, Petrykivka painting was included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, demonstrating its importance to global cultural heritage. The predominant colors in Petrykivka painting include vibrant shades of red, yellow, blue, and green, setting it apart from other painting techniques and making it easily recognizable.

… Petrykivka painting is a Ukrainian cultural heritage “To reader's attention, senwithcatch deepthe roots that reflects theplace soulan of interesting Ukrainian peotence ple... or quote from the story here.”

Top Ten Places to Visit This Year — by Oscar Garcia Marroquin — J. Kalsow would visit Spain and travel between Madrid and Barcelona. Also, I would love to see a soccer game. Another country that I would love to visit is Argentina in summer time when it’s winter here in United States so I can spend my winter over there in Argentina having BBQ’s and enjoying the weather in South America.

The third country on my list I would love to visit is Brazil and visit the Cristo of Redentor and take the cable car and of course go to the beach and be in the Carnival down there. The fourth country I would love to visit will be Switzerland in Winter time or in Fall. The rest places to

visit will be here around the country and my fifth place would be the Niagara Falls in NY and border with Canada and at the same time visit Ontario. My sixth place is in Canada and ride the Wheel. My seventh place to visit it would be Seattle, it’s my dream to visit there since I was a kid and in my eighth place to visit would be the Grand Canyon in Arizona. My ninth place to visit would be Mount Rushmore National Park and go camping there but I have to be careful with the wild life down there. The last tenth place to visit would be Yellowstone and see the wild Bulls and if I could, to see a wild bear.

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Petrykivka Painting Technique

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A Fresh Start in Your Life—by: Maria Johnson Transitional English 6— J. Kalsow was the last time that you remember a fresh start in your life? A fresh start in your life was what you expect or do you think you never had the experience to have a fresh start in your life. let me tell you a little bit about my experiences that I had to have fresh start in my life. The first time that I remember had a fresh start in my life, was when I was 11 years old and I had to change schools. I remember I was excited to meet new classmates but nothing was what I thought of, my new classmates didn't want to be my friends and they didn't want to play with me and I started to miss my old school.

Sometimes a fresh start in life is like that.

wasn't looking for my great fresh start in my life. I was a university student. I was going to graduate in a short time. I was very happy but unfortunately things

happened in my social environment and I had to immigrate to the United States. Having a fresh start was too difficult, I didn't know the country, the culture, I didn't have friends. I didn't like the food. I felt depressed.

I felt so small and I cried at night.

But in my mind, it just kept repeating, be strong, the beginning is always the hardest part. I started attending English classes and little by little I started saying words in English and feeling relief in my heart.

Sometimes a fresh start in life is like that.

a fresh start in life can be scary.

You feel panic in your body or believe that it is not possible or that you do not deserve a fresh start in your life. But despite all my experiences that I had a fresh start in my life, I can say that I would go through those experiences again because it helped me grow.

Answers: Spring It is one of the four temperate seasons.

Bloom A flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty.

Sprout A shoot of a plant.

Adventure An exciting or remarkable experience.

Respite A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

Knowledge Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education.

Enjoyment The state or process of taking pleasure in something.

By Natalia Demchyshyn Transitional English 6—J. Kalsow 37

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By Karla Hernandez—Transitional English Level 6—J. Kalsow Spring 2024-New Beginnings

is wonderful, and colorful. It is a new beginning for us. The spring season is special because it gives us peace of mind, and reflects on us when we have bad experiences,

and challenges that affects us emotionally. Spring is interpreted when after a strong storm comes the calm. After a bad situation we feel reborn, and flourishing.

… Spring “To catchbrings the reader's a welcome attention, change place to the an table, interesting bursting sentence with fresh or quote flavors from and thevistory here.” brant colors ….

By Lyubomyr Balitskyy—Transitional English Level 6—J. Kalsow Spring brings a welcome change to the table, bursting with fresh flavors and vibrant colors. Light and refreshing dishes take center stage, often featuring an abundance of vegetables, herbs, and delicate fruits.

Here are some recipe ideas to inspire your springtime meals:

Salads: Spring is a great time to enjoy a variety of fresh salads. Try a light and refreshing salad with mixed greens, asparagus, strawberries, and a

lemon vinaigrette.

Pasta dishes: Pasta dishes are a perfect springtime meal. Enjoy a light and flavorful pasta with pesto, cherry tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese.

Desserts: Spring is also a great time to enjoy lighter desserts. Try a fresh fruit tart with a homemade crust or a delicious strawberry shortcake.

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by Araceli Avalos ESL Level 4 - A. Kosmas A small change makes big, positive results for the environment. Here are some tips to help the environment stay clean: • Use the car only when necessary • Don't use disposable things • Use a water filter and don't buy bottles • Do not use so much paper if it is not necessary so that we have more trees in order to breathe better • take care of the seas and rivers because they are our source of life Put trash in the right bin and proper place

By Victoria Serediuk Transitional English Level 6– J. Kalsow a perfect time for renewal and high hopes. Many people around the world believe that spring is the beginning of the year and the start of the annual cycle. In spring, nature renews itself, plants come to life and some animals wake up. Spring symbolize a new stage in the life of the nature. That’s why people also try to renew themselves during this wonderful period, prepare themselves for changes in their life and begin to implement their plans, hopes and dreams. Also, spring is a good insentience to change your habits, start new achievements and find time for selfimprovement. Having worked on yourself for several months, you will not want to spoil the result. Some habits will stay with you forever and will help you live life a useful, bright and fulfilling life.

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Ms. Helena Moody’s ESL students ended Ramadan with a class celebration. The students educated fellow students about the tradition of Ramadan.

Ramadan ends in a festival called Eid-al-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast. Muslims celebrate and give thanks for the strength imparted in them during fasting. Children receive presents and new clothes, and young girls may decorate their hands with henna.

Wright Here—Write Now is a an Adult Education Student Publication containing original pieces of writing submitted

by GED and ESL students.

Student articles have been edited only for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors which impede meaning.

EDITOR & Designer —Angela Kosmas

All Adult Education Students Submit your writing for publication in our next Issue QUESTIONS? wrighthere-writenow@ccc.edu Or talk to your teacher