My name is Derron Holness. I was born in Jamaica. My father left five girls and four boys with my mother. She didn’t have any money to send us to school. My mother prayed night and day to God to help us with food and shelter. Sometimes there was no food in the house. Sometimes for two days we had no food, but my mother went out to look for some from people’s homes. She tried very hard.

Finally, after years of looking, she found my father and his family in London. He was sick and said he didn’t have any money to give her. This was very difficult for her.

One of my brothers came to the United States to work. God made a way out for him. He tried very hard to bring us to the United States. Finally he succeeded and he brought all of us to the United States. It was a joy coming to the United States to work.

When I came to the United States I met a friend. She took me around the city of Worcester. She told me about the Worcester Adult Learning Center. It felt great to begin class. I couldn’t read or write. Every day I practice reading and writing. I seem to be learning a lot. All of the students in class help one another. We enjoy our talks and learning together. We laugh a lot, too. Kathy has a lot of patience and enjoys seeing us learn.

I work every day at WPI from 3:00 - 11:00p.m. It’s hard working full time and coming to school everyday, but I try not to miss a day. I hope to keep learning reading, writing and math in class for as long as it’s necessary for me to do it all well.

Derron Holness is from Jamaica.  He has been in Worcester for four years.  Derron has worked at WPI for a year. "I come to school every day to learn how to read and write.  I'm pleased to be able to read and enjoy writing.  I also like music and like to cook." He is an ABE student at the Worcester Adult Learning Center.