Motivation and Support

A San Mateo Adult School ESL class is where Marita Marquez-Muzzi found the motivation and support she needed to succeed.

Seventeen years ago, she came here from Cordoba, Argentina. Initially, she felt ignorant and frustrated, unable to make friends and express her love of life and people the same way she could in Spanish. Communication and connection are important to Marita. Not being able to reach out to others as a friend in English troubled her.

Lack of English created other challenges: shopping, healthcare, banking, and so many other things are much harder to deal with when you can't do deal with them in English. Her sisters helped her and she was grateful but she wanted to do these these things for herself.

The solution to her problems was an ESL class at the San Mateo Adult School Foster City campus. There she gained not just English but the courage to continue her studies all the way to college.

According to Marita, she still has a "looong" way to go, but according to her friends and teachers, she has come a "looong" way, as well. She speaks English beautifully, makes friends everywhere she goes, and brings cheer and comfort to the residents of the Millbrae Magnolia, where she works managing Emma's Sweet Shop.

All these things were made possible by her own strong spirit - and classes at the San Mateo Adult School.