Melissa Upton teaches music with bananas

By Oscar Ramirez

It was my first day at Ashley Academy. I introduced myself, and quickly noticed that two of the students would turn and talk to each other every time I said something. I mentioned that I spoke Spanish and English, and that seemed to establish an immediate connection. During one of the activities, one of the students did not want to participate and the other child told her in Spanish that I could speak in Spanish so she should not be embarrassed. The student then shared her family had only been in the United States for a short time. Her parents only spoke Spanish at home and that she did not understand English. I assured her that I could help her, and after this I felt that I should mention that if anyone in the class needed help in Spanish I could help them in our language. I also mentioned that I was an international student at UNCSA and that I was from Guatemala. At the end of the class, another child approached me and said, "My parents are also from Guatemala," and proceeded to give me a hug. At that moment I almost cried because it touched my heart. I realized that being bilingual made me much more connected to them, and it gave them a lot of security and confidence.