The Hero’s Journaling Project came out of a blended effort between the local arts nonprofit, VOICES, and Lucia Campbell, an English language development teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School. The culmination was a student presentation last Thursday evening at the Glenwood Springs Library.
The project started back in 2019. It involves instructional storytelling — teaching students to express themselves through writing and other artistic modes.
This year, the program had a record number of 37 emerging bilingual students participate. The theme was: “Hero’s Journey: Life Changing Stories,” or “El Camino del Héroe: Historias que Cambian Vidas,” in Spanish.
There were many overlapping themes, including emigrating to the U.S., leaving behind family and friends and starting at a new school. They reflected on what their experiences taught them and set goals for the future.
As students presented, their classmates listened attentively and often used their cellphones to record and preserve the moment. There were nervous jitters as they waited their turn to present but the encouragement between students was palpable.
‘La Gran Propuesta de mi Mama’
Matias Largo from Colombia was the first to share his story, which he dedicated to his mother, with the title “My Mother’s Great Proposal,” or “La Gran Propuesta de mi Mama.” His family first flew to Orlando when coming to the U.S. and while at the airport Largo said he remembered ordering a coffee and having his first taste of culture shock. “The coffee cost like eight dollars,” Largo said. “I remember thinking, ‘My God how much is this coffee?’ In Colombia this cup of coffee (would) only cost 2,000 pesos.”
The next leg of their travels was to New York. He described feeling regret at the time about agreeing to move to America. However, his whole family was finally together. After living in Glenwood Springs for a time, he considered how leaving his life in Colombia helped him grow as a person.
“As a result of the journey, I am now more independent, stronger and smarter,” Largo stated.
“In five years, I am going to be in high school. I hope to learn English perfectly. I am going to be more independent and [will] have a car,” he said. “In 10 years, I will have a house. I will be in college. I am going to have a dog and a cat, and I want to learn to speak perfect English like an American.”
‘El Gran Cristal’
In her story, “The Great Crystal,” Salma Borbon said that when her mother first told her they were going to the U.S., she felt very sad to be going to a new place and leaving her family. She lived in Chihuahua and was concerned that going to the U.S. would make visiting her loved ones too difficult.
“I also wanted a better future for myself. I knew it was going to be hard,” Borbon shared. When she first arrived in Glenwood, she just wanted to return to Chihuahua but with time things became easier. “I learned that things don’t always go the way we want them,” Borbon continued. “Now, I understand that sometimes we have to let go of some parts of our lives to make our dream come true.”
Borbon said her five-year goal is to get good grades. In 10 years, she wants to be in college and save money to help her mom, sisters and family back in Mexico.
‘De las Playas a las Montañas’
Elmer Romero, from El Salvador, shared his story, “From the Beaches to the Mountains.” He remembers feeling happy with friends and family back home, but also seeing people living in poverty.
“I used to see people being so happy eating pupusas and eating chicken soup with their families,” Romero said, then added, “I used to see kids who were not wearing shoes because they were poor.”
He moved to the U.S. when he was 8 years old to live with his dad. He said he was happy to be with his father but nervous about learning to speak English.
“One lesson I learned from my journey is to always be kind to people. I am always thinking, ‘What if other people are having a hard life?’” said Romero.
In five years, he plans to visit his grandfather back in El Salvador —who is currently battling cancer — and to be working to support his family. In 10 years, he wants to have graduated high school and be a professional soccer player. The wisdom the students shared grew from experiences which many their age do not realize. Thursday evening was not just a Celebration of Learning, as it was labeled, but a celebration for the students finding their VOICES.