There I am in a strange diminutive room with just one window; it’s located right by the guidance office. I am holding an old number two wooden pencil in my hand, so tight that my hand is slightly shaking. I look up at the teacher and realize that she looks familiar. Yes, of course, she reminds me of my aunt Lena from Crimea. Her skin tone, dirty blond hair, emerald eyes, long neck, and even the way she sits on the old wooden chair are almost equal of my relative that is thousands of miles east of here.
Until age of 11 I lived in a Crimean capital, Simferopol. Crimea is magnificent peninsula with mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and small deserts. It is located on the Black Sea; just south of Ukraine. The temperature is hot during the summer and freezing cold throughout late fall and winter; that is why it’s a perfect resort place that tourists visit year round. Couple week after I turned eleven my mom and stepdad, who just retired from US Navy, told me that we will be moving to Virginia Beach, which is located in the United States. I wasn’t ready to leave all my friends and family behind but I knew that I had to. When I moved to the US, it was really hard for me to learn English. Actually, I learned British English for a year in my home city, but American pronunciations are completely different.
So since my first day at school I had to take English as a Second Language course. I remember walking in everyday in the spacious classroom, where there were just four other students and a teacher. I will always remember this room – the sweet smell, the sound of a bell ringing right when I walk in the door, the excitement of Mrs. Anerson, and motivation that this environment provided me with. This is the place where I started to learn English. I started with writing simple sentences. For example I learned to say my age and my name. To me this seemed just as hard as reading elementary school books. I still remember holding a book that was about invisible boy, and it felt just like a feather that floated down on my hand. But as time went by the gravity pooled down harder and harder on the books that were in my hands. The sentences I had to write started to slowly turn in the paragraphs, and the words kept gaining letters. I knew the work in ESL was getting more complex, but I also felt like I was becoming a better writer, reader, and student overall. It was a pain, but I kept pushing. My parents always taught me when it’s easy put in all 100%, and when it’s tough put in 200%.
My teacher kept telling me that this test that takes only around two hours will decide my future, regardless of how much work and dedication I put in to learn English during English as a Second Language classes. So after two years of constantly practicing to read and write I kept thinking that this test would be a piece of cake, but it turned out to be a little more difficult than expected. I just finished the reading part, and it perplexed me at times, but majority of it we practiced in class. I decide to take a quick 5-10 min break since I am good on time. I put away the pencil and close the test packet. Then I look out the only window and see enormous grey clouds crying harshly with small drops of rain. At the same time I hear a thunder just exploding this city. This sound was just as loud as a sound of a jet flying from the Oceana Navy Base that is just a few miles away from the school. I look around this room to find something interesting but I can’t seem to find any new objects at all. Finally after few seconds of scanning around with my eyes, I find a sign that says, “Success is to be earned by hard work, not excuses.” I realized that if I won’t put in everything I got for this final test, then dedication to ESL would be pointless so I decide to get back to work. I pick up a packet with a black pen and start it all again. I quickly find a writing part and as soon as I start reading a prompt, I start to feel sweat drops coming down my face. This prompt isn’t too hard because it just asks to talk about my typical day. I read it again, then grab a pan with ease and start to plan out my essay. I decided to list 10-15 activities that I do daily on a scratch paper. Afterwards, I start to write my text on the test. After thirty minutes it is all finished, so I lay back on the chair with ease and stretch my arms towards the white ceiling, slightly covered in dust.
After a minute of watching me sitting casually and looking out the window, the mysterious teacher finally decides to tell me that there is another prompt on the back of the packet. I jump up on my seat turn the packet over and my thoughts are exploding inside my head. How is this possible? I thought that this test was over, but now I got another essay to write and there is only 15 minutes left. I realize that all the hard work, all the experience, and all the time spent would be pointless if I do not complete this essay. Sometimes there is just one moment that can change the future, and I have to be very careful right now because this is that moment. It’s like sprinting before the finish line or winning a penalty shootout in a soccer game. So I read a prompt and then grab a pen for brainstorming with a grip of an arm-wrestler and pride of a lion. I write everything that comes to my mind because I do not have much time. I have to write at least five pros and cons of public school system. After some swift brainstorming, I begin to write the essay. By the third paragraph the struggle begins, but I do not give up and I keep going. The sentences are flying all over my head like projectiles, words are floating like boats, and letters like threads are tangling together. The time is the only thing I need. Somehow I finish the essay, and the bell rings instantaneously. I feel a relief because this test is surely a tough one, but I know I that passed it. I had to. All this time spent in ESL would be pointless if I just fail one test. This is two hours that can decide my future in high school.