From Joliet Junior College Department of Adult Education & Literacy:
Rocio Cano, the student speaker from our Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutor and Learner Thank You Banquet, was our most inspirational student speaker to date. In her speech this year, Rocio explained how her ultimate goal, to become a U.S. Citizen, led to her improved speaking and reading literacy. Rocio's example illustrates how reading for a purpose (in this case, studying for her citizenship exam), has a dramatic impact on learning outcomes. Through her diligence, both Rocio and her husband were fully prepared, and passed their citizenship tests the same day! Rocio is now inspired by her own progress and is continuing to study with a new tutor, this time hoping to eventually take and pass her High School Equivalency.
After hearing Rocio's story, three separate students approached program staff and thanked us for both the banquet and arranging the student speaker. They said that they would be working very hard this next year, and at the next Banquet, they hope it can be them giving a speech!