“I’m from both sides of the border. There are no stories or words I can’t understand because I’m bilingual.”
These were among the words written by Andrea Linette Rodriguez, a third grader at Sanchez Elementary, who expressed her adoration and pride in being able to communicate in both English and Spanish.
Rodriguez won first place in the National Association for Bilingual Education, or NABE, 2023 Being Bilingual Essay competition.
Throughout her essay, she explained that being bilingual has opened more opportunities for her allowing her to communicate with more people.
In fact, Rodriguez said in the essay that being bilingual gave her “a stronger voice” that she “can use to change the world.“
She is currently in Carolina De Anda Trevino’s dual-language class where students are taught in English and Spanish. They learn to read, write and speak in both languages.
“So incredibly proud of Andrea Rodriguez, my 3rd-grade Dual Language student and 2023 Elementary Student of the Year for the National Association for Bilingual Education,” Trevino said in a tweet on Jan. 9.
Rodriguez, a student with the McAllen school district, will read her award-winning essay in both English and Spanish at the NABE 2023 Awards Luncheon on Feb. 24 in Portland, Oregon.
