Rock Mabaka Receives Honorable Mention in Essay Contest

(December 4, 2007 – Riverhead, NY) RHS senior Rock Mabaka was recently recognized with a second place/honorable mention for an essay he submitted in the 9-12 grade category of the annual essay contest of the New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Association. (There was only one winner and one honorable mention in the statewide contest.)

Rock came to the United States from his home in Gabon-Libreville, in central Africa, when he was fourteen. He lives in Flanders with his stepmother, Kathy Blenk, who is an elementary teacher in Southampton. Rock has attended Riverhead schools from grades 8-12.

“My stepmom means the world to me,” shares Rock, immediately getting choked up. “She has made it possible for me to receive an excellent education in the United States. When I came to this country, I couldn’t speak any English. Now, after four years at Riverhead High School, I plan to attend college and become an engineer. I am very grateful to her and to my teachers.”

Rock now speaks three languages: his native French, English and he is learning Spanish. He has been active in sports (soccer, wrestling and track). He was All League in soccer and is a member of the National Foreign Language Honor Society. He is also a member of the Urban League and was Riverhead High School’s representative to Boy’s State last summer. His favorite subject is algebra and he enjoys science. He credits his interest in engineering to his father, who is an auto mechanic in Gabon-Libreville.

“He always let me watch and help him while he was repairing engines,” Rock explains. “As a result, I’ve always been interested in how things work.”

Riverhead High School is very proud of this young man and all of its ESL students for their outstanding effort and achievement. Below is Rock’s essay, which was restricted to 250 words.

My Growth as an English Learner and a New American
Rock Mabaka, 12th grader
I walked into a noisy room. The smell of the new food was depressing, not at all like Gabonese food. Students were everywhere, eating, laughing, talking, and doing things that showed they belonged. I walked to the food line. Everybody kept looking at me; they knew I was the new kid from Africa. They were pointing fingers and making jokes. That was four years ago, on my first day of middle school in the United States.

I felt isolated and scared because nobody spoke French. All the kids seemed to be friends. I couldn’t ask for directions because I didn’t speak English. I couldn’t understand what my teachers were saying or ask them questions. I was a good athlete but almost failed gym because I couldn’t read and understand the questions on the test. I was frustrated because I wanted to explain myself but didn’t have the right words.

Now, I feel very happy. I’m graduating in a couple of months with a Regents Diploma. I have made a lot of growth as an English learner. I have learned to express myself in English - in class, in the cafeteria, and on the soccer field. I can read and understand Langston Hughes’ poems. I can ask my teachers questions when I don’t understand. I can answer questions in class. I am learning American history. I studied American government at Boys State Camp. I am becoming a New American.

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