My name is Mirta Llopis Pedrazzoli, and my husband and I came to America from Argentina, several years ago.

Begining a new life in America was very difficult, especially for me because I didn't read, write or speak the English language. Suddenly the language barrier made me deaf and mute. I used to go the supermarket and because I did not know how to read I was mistakenly buying cat food for tuna fish.

At work I managed to make myself undertood, but at home I felt worthless. I was unable to help my children with their homework or read them bedtime stories, and when I was invited to school field trips, I always had an excuse at hand because I didn't want to embarrass my children in front of the other moms by speaking such poor English.

As my children grew older and went to college, they brought friends home. I used to put snacks on the kitchen table and run to hide at any corner of the house.

At the time, I was very busy with with work and taking care of the house, there was no time to better my education. Suddenly everything changed. After a very delicate hip surgery the doctor told me that I couldn't resume my work duties. I was now at home all day, having lots of time on my hands, and so little I could physically accomplish. Volunteer work came to mind, but how could I offer my help to others, not knowing how to read or write, and I was still speaking rough English.

In 1992 a friend introduced me to LVA Kent County, RI. The tutor assigned to me, Hilda Perry, taught me to have confidence in myself, and with her guidence and support a new word of knowledge opened up for me. In 1994 I accomplished a dream, becoming an American citizen. I started to help with my local literacy program, become chair of the Student Support Group, a board member of LVA Kent County, and also member of the LVA-RI Board of Directors, as a student representative. In 1999 I was elected chair of the LVA National Student Advisory Board (NSAB). NSAB was responsible for advising the LVA National Board about student issues.

In 2001, I moved to Palm Beach, FL, and I really missed helping students in the literacy program in Rhode Island. Last November, I started working with literacy program on Palm Beach.

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