For Norma Zacharias, a student who has been studying English at Regional Connections for the past three years, being in the classroom setting is something that she didn’t anticipate for herself.
“I always thought it was already too late for me,” she says. “I didn’t see this as a possibility.”
Today, despite her expectations, not only has Zacharias found herself in the classroom, but she is thriving there.
Her most recent accolade is being crowned winner of the Starr Writers Contest, which is open to all literacy and adult learning centre students across the province.
The win is more than conquering a writing contest — it’s also a monument to achievement, promise, and forging a way forward.
Entering the contest with a personal story
Zacharias first heard about the Starr Writers Contest through her teacher, Jaime Friesen-Pankratz, with whom she has studied since she began at Regional Connections.
“One day in class, Jamie told us that there was a contest that we could enter,” she says. “I decided to enter, and my teacher told me [that I] needed to write where I come from, how I came to this class, what I have learned, and the goal that I have, so that's what I did.”
“I was very [set on] learning English because I told my husband if we want this country to be our homeland, to feel at home, I need to know this language, and so I was very determined to learn as much as I could.”
-Norma Zacharias on her journey of studying English.
The story that unfolded in the writing entry featured Zacharias’ roots.
“I come from a very traditional Mennonite colony in Mexico. There was no possibility to learn any other language. I went to school from six years old till eleven, so that’s what I had,” she says.
Zacharias returned to school to complete her education to the eighth grade, and soon after, she got married and embarked on a new journey.
“We moved to Canada because, economically, in Mexico it's not easy,” she says. “We saw that this opportunity for us to come to Canada was a very good opportunity for us to create our own family.”
‘I was very [set on] learning English’
Zacharias says that when she arrived in Canada with her husband, learning English became a top priority.
“I was very [set on] learning English because I told my husband if we want this country to be our homeland, to feel at home, I need to know this language, and so, I was very determined to learn as much as I could.”
From there, Zacharias became involved in Regional Connections, which she finds “encouraging” — especially her teacher, Friesen-Pankratz.
‘I didn’t think I would be a winner’
Zacharias’ story garnered her the win in the contest. It is the second consecutive year a Regional Connections student has won the award. Last year, Maragaretha Giesbrecht was a winner.
It has just encouraged me to go forward and do more things. It gives me confidence, I would say, to do more things than I thought I was able to.”
-Norma Zacharias on winning the Starr Writers Contest.
The achievement came as a surprise to Zacharias.
“I didn't think I would be a winner .... I knew there were many stories besides mine, and knowing that they looked at it and they liked it — I couldn't believe it,” she says.
“I was very surprised and very thankful, and it's just wonderful to see how our lives ... can encourage other people.”
For Zacharias, the win holds great meaning. She says that being able to enter the contest and come out on top indicates to her that everyone matters.
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"We are all people who can do this. It doesn't mean that you have to be a perfect English speaker or a perfect English writer,” she says.
“It has just encouraged me to go forward and do more things. It gives me confidence, I would say, to do more things than I thought I was able to.”
In the end, the writing contest was well worth entering.
“This was an accomplishment for me. I have never won anything like this, and it's just like — I count,” says Zacharias.
With files from Robyn Wiebe