Vote for 7th Grader, Yareli's Story!

SJDA 7th grader Yareli Paulina Gonzalez Velasquez is a semi-finalist in the Write Michigan Short Story Contest!

***We need everyone to vote to help Yareli become a finalist which means her story will be published and will receive a cash reward.
 
Here's how to vote:
 
1.) Go to   http://writemichigan.org/vote.html
 
2.) Click on "Spanish entries"
 
3.) Click on Yareli Paulina Gonzalez Velasquez ; story titled "Cuando vine a Estados Unidos"
 
4.) Click VOTE!!!!!!
 
**You can vote once a day until Jan. 31!


Read an English translation of Yareli's story below:

When I Came to the United States
By Yareli Paulina Gonzalez Velasquez

When I came to the United States, it was a difficult trip, but I liked seeing the places in Mexico City. I traveled in a bus through the desert where there isn’t food or water or houses. There were a lot of other people who were traveling to the United States too.

Then, we traveled in various buses and slept in them. After that, we didn’t have water or food. When they turned us into migration, we were kept in a cold room for six days.

My mom went through a lot, and I give thanks to God because we are here now in the United States. I also came here because we have relatives here.

Then, we arrived in Michigan after traveling on another bus. We are seven in my family: my mom, my dad, my three brothers, my little sister, and me.

I like to study in school, and my favorite class is mathematics.

Then they told me I was going to study at San Juan Diego, and I was excited because I was going to get to go to school. I like studying, and it’s also good to learn new languages.

Now I am studying at San Juan Diego, and my classmates treat me well. I like the school and I like to play, but the most important part is learning. It’s also important to listen and pay attention to what the teacher says. It’s good to learn because then you can help other people who may not know how to read or have the opportunity to study.