The medal I earned in kindergarten is very important to me. The medal demonstrates that I'm incredibly  hardworking and resilient. When I first started kindergarten I couldn't speak any English. The only language I spoke was ewe which no one spoke and my teacher tried to find my language so she could translate to me but she couldn't find it. I had a hard time communicating with the teacher and staff in my school. I always felt a bit lost or confused with what was being taught. It is connected to me, my teachers, and my classmates. It matters to me because now I can look back to see how far I came, how I persevered, and how I always gave all my attention to the classes taught by the teachers. It connected to me because I tried my best and gave it my all even when I was perplexed. It connects with my family because it demonstrates how much my parents disciplined me and how proud they were of me.
 When the award ceremony came at the end of kindergarten, I felt proud of myself for how far I had come. The medal is important to me because it showed me all the hard work paid off, and I had also begun to understand and speak English.  Receiving the medal brought up feelings of happiness, pride, and accomplishment. My experience of coming to kindergarten in New York from Togo without understanding English made the award more meaningful. The award ceremony was very special to me because I got to share it with my classmates, teachers, and family. IT reminds me of how much I have accomplished and motivates me to keep going when I face challenges.

– CA

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