Show I J rf L x lit c co o c 3 c c i II Marcia Pinkerman will be speaking at graduation ceremony in May Graduation speaker reflects on struggle I to obtain diploma dipoma x Kathryn Jones The Globe When Marcia Pinkerman aka student speaker for upcoming graduation first came cameto cameto cameto to Utah from Brazil some ten years ago she didn't speak a word of English I had to lo start at ground zero or negative zero she said I can understand a couple of words now Pinkerman who married a US U.S. citizen and later adopted ason a ason ason son from Brazil started at al in the ESL program working up the ladder before settling into inlo the nursing program Today when I talk to my sister sister sister sis sis- ter about nursing we laugh Our medical terms are so different she said She hopes her parents and sister will be able to attend her graduation on but said her sister had recently been told by the consulate that she she- wo wouldn't d fI be able to obtain a visa Though th the order has been appealed she is waiting for the consulates consulate's answer Pinkerman hopes the answer is good Thankfully George Hatch Father of Orin Hatch whom nurses has purchased purchased purchased pur pur- chased tickets for her parents and the consulate has given permission permission permission sion for them to come Unfortunately without the assistance assistance assistance assis assis- tance of her sister Pinkerman feels feels' that her parents will decide not to lo make the trip My mom and dad are afraid to lo leave she said sta stating slating ng that her parents neither of whom know how to lo read or write have always lived in the same little house in Brazil and have never traveled anywhere Graduation Cont on Page 2 Graduation Cont from front lived in this small three room house with her seven siblings before coming to the United States-a States house with a dirt floor the outside of which was the eyesore of the street Pinkerman said The bathroom was outside If we wanted a pillow pillow pillow pil pil- pil- pil low we would have to go to bed early To stay warm we had to sleep close to one another spoke of spreading spreading spreading spread spread- ing palm tree leaves on the dirt floor for greater comfort and the greater need to share a blanket blanket blanket blan blan- ket because we were one and a half blankets too short We had no presents for Christmas each year except one Pepsi which we could have all to ourselves and didn't have to share she continued Dad would buy it Once a year wed we'd get a pair of shoes Wed We'd grow out of them by September and I would cut a hole in the toe to let my toes out Pinkerman said she wouldn't exchange her life at home for anything We had nothing fancy she said But if my dad had had the money he would have given me every every- thing Pinkerman who since coming coming coming com com- ing to Utah has been able to help her family out financially said that her mothers mother's greatest wish when she was growing up was to have a light in the bathroom bath bath- room Thirty five years later she Jias has one I was able to make my mothers mothers mother's d r am come come i because Ive I've- come here Pinkerman said There is not a night that I go goto goto goto to bed that I dont don't feel blessed she said Every day of my life is wonderful Anything makes me happy I have abed a I have shoes Pinkerman is grateful for all those who have helped her in her journey thus far Shirene Bell is helping with my speech she said I know nursing but I dont don't know anything anything anything any any- thing about public speaking Shirene is teaching me all the tricks Pinkerman's first step in receiving the honor of speaking at graduation began with a letter from the college asking her to audition She thought it over and decided it was worth a try When youre you're poor you never get the opportunities you do here I wanted to respond to this recognition she said According to Pinkerman she was one of 13 people who were chosen to audition Afterward a friend asked How did you do All that Pinkerman remembers is that she just stood there and cried She hopes this wont won't happen at grad grad- Im going to read it read it read it so that when I get up there I wont won't cry said Pinkerman who admits it may still occur If this happens she hopes others will be able to understand her She hopes after all the fuss in not allowing her sister to come that the consulate will relent and allow her to come with her parents In her heart this would be the greatest gift Graduation to me is the most ii important p nant thing thi gln in m Tny my life she said It was told to tot I Ime me too many times that school was not possible and now Im I'm here |