Community ESL Reading and Writing Intensive Class

Here is a wonderful writing sample from Maria Isabel. Great work! I like how she ends with a thoughtful comment. With you as a mother, I bet your daughter does see herself that way.

My name is Maria Isabel, just like my grandma and my mom.
My name means many things, too. It means “Promise of God.” I am supposed to be spiritual, strong, and loving. I believe I am. It also means that I work hard to achieve my goals and that I have a strong and independent character. Now I imagine my husband saying that I am stubborn. Well, yes, I am, because I have a strong and independent character.

I love my name, it really suits me perfectly, although It wasn’t always like that. When I was little, I wanted to be called after my schoolmates. They had such cute and fashionable names: Valentina, Silvana, Mariana, Sarah, and Sofia. I wanted to have any of those names, of course, I also wanted to be like my friends. But, one day I grew up, I lived, I experienced and met many people. I guess I matured, so I started to feel comfortable with who I am. I felt so good about myself that I no longer needed to be someone else.

However, if I had to change my name to start fresh, I would call myself Isabella, just like my daughter. I named her after my grandma and my mom. I thought it would be nice to continue with the tradition and legacy of our family.
If I wanted to have another name, I would have my daughter's name. An intelligent, sweet, compassionate, empathetic, empowered, and stubborn beautiful girl. I hope she feels the same about herself.