ABSTRACT
At the age of 22, Marisa thinks that she is getting too old to realize her dreams; yet she has not lost faith in her ability. Life has not been easy for her. Her GED teacher, Ms. Horeb, tells me that Marisa has had a “horrible life.” Her daughter’s second grade teacher references Anna’s background and the difficulties she has faced, but emphasizes repeatedly that Anna has “come a long way” and is doing well in school. Clearly Marisa and Anna bring rich resources to their respective classrooms. Marisa has strong convictions about her life and her future; during the time I knew Marisa she never lost faith in her ability, although her goals did change. Likewise, Anna worked hard in school and kept me updated on her accomplishments when I came to visit.
