Bridgewater-Rartian Middle School Student Wins State Essay Award

BRIDGEWATER, NJ ? Only one year since moving from Colombia to the United States and Valentina Ardila Valens has already made an impact during her short residency as a student in the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School.

Valentina was notified on Saturday, April 29, that she is the award recipient of an essay that she had submitted to the New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages /Bilingual Educators.

According to LeighAnn Matthews, who is the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District K-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructional Coach, Valentina, with the strong support and guidance of her ESL Teacher Carla Jorge submitted an essay that focused on answering the question "If you were a teacher, what changes would you make to help new immigrants adjust to your school?"

A celebration of her achievement with her schoolmates was held in class on Tuesday morning.

"Valentina is always worried about her performance and how hard it is to adjust to a new country, so she always wants to help new students who arrive and want to make them feel good and wanted," Jorge explained why Valentina nailed it by answering the essay?s question.

Valentina reported on what her essay?s quest was directed at.

"I wrote that we should have cultural day celebrations for everyone and to place signs throughout the school in different languages," she said.

She also revealed that she did not feel that she had a chance to walk away with the award.

"I had no idea that I would win," she said. "Then last Saturday I saw an email that came from New Jersey and I read it and said 'Oh my'."

Matthews responded to the good news with her sound thoughts.

"Valentina?s award speaks volumes about what an asset it is to be multilingual," Matthews said. "It is also a testament to the dedication of Ms. Jorge ? and really all ESL teachers who advocate for and continuously support their students."

According to the New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/Bilingual Educators, the association of educators and administrators is dedicated to the instruction of multilingual learners at all levels of public and private education. Their mission includes classroom practices, research, curriculum development, funding, employment and socio-political concerns. In the spirit of honoring and supporting academic aspirations of New Jersey students and members, the association offers multiple scholarship and award opportunities each year.

Valentina along with Jorge, Matthews and Valentina?s family will attend the association?s annual President?s Awards Ceremony during the 2023 Spring Conference on Wednesday, May 24, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.

It will be at this elite event where she will receive a laptop and a plaque to honor her award-winning essay.

Valentina?s fan club also featured Priscilla Aniegbuna, the Middle School Assistant Principal who dropped in during the classroom celebration on May 2.

"She is a star and is so amazing," Assistant Principal Aniegbuna said.

While the state association that bestowed this award to her may not want to hear this, Valentina is not aspiring to become an educator.

"No, I don?t want to be a teacher," she said. "But I do love to write."

? Submitted by Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District