Note to readers

The following letters are written by non-native English speakers who are students in the Advanced Writing ESOL class at Southern Maine Community College.

These young men and women have worked hard to write these letters of opinion, hoping to persuade you; for all of them, it is their first experience with the idea of Freedom of the Press. Their assignment was to write a letter to the editor, something not ever done by many citizens. Please support them by taking a moment to read their thoughts and maybe write a reply.

You might also like to come to hear them tell their Sacred Stories on April 27 at South Portland City Hall at 3 p.m., completing their final project for the semester. I promise you will not regret this often life-changing experience.

Rosemarie De Angelis,

Adjunct Professor, SMCC

Take a trip

Ever since I was a little girl, traveling and experiencing the world has been my biggest passion. I even remember telling my mother “Mom, when I grow up, I’m going to be a flight attendant.” She didn’t like the idea because she always told me that a girl’s strongest weapon is her degree.

I’ve been to quite few places around the world, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment. Traveling really calms the soul.

Nowadays, we’re too busy so we don’t even have time to take a break for ourselves, to maybe just hit the road, explore something new, something we’ve never done before because we are too afraid to be out of our comfort zone.

If you need a change in your life, traveling could be the answer. Traveling may help decrease anxiety and depression. If you are feeling unhappy, then traveling is strongly advised. Go to a place you have never been before; a short trip could change your mood and increase your energy level.

Areej Al Shammari

Iraq

Music is soothing

Music is defined as a part of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and colors. Can we live in a world without music?

Music has been a support for humans since our first cry. It has an important place in our society and daily life. Music has many roles such as bringing support when it’s needed, treating depression and participating in the happiest moments of our life. In education music is one of the easiest methods for children and adults to learn something faster and make everything easier for the brain to keep. In health, music is used as therapy to treat certain diseases as depression, seizures and insomnia. In addition to its importance in education and health, it is comforting in most of our down moments such as death, frustration or divorce. It helps people to express their emotions and feelings. It intervenes the most at celebrations such as births, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and weddings.

There is no doubt that music is the best support for our emotions and feelings. Through it we can express our ideas, learn and communicate knowledge. It will not get you in trouble when you stress out so instead of drinking alcohol to get over your stress, listen to music.

Junes S. Thete

Congo, Kinshasa

Offer help when you can

Offering help to the newcomer in their needs can change the lives of several hundred people. A little help for someone else goes a long way. Offering doesn’t have to be money, food or house. Even finding someone on the street and saying “hello” and helping the person with anything he needs. Having the heart of talking to people that you don’t even know and you don’t know where they come from can make a difference. We can call that a big help because the way you talk to them already makes them feel comfortable. That gives them courage to tell you or ask you anything they may need to know.

Like here in Portland, we have so many people from different countries and different cultures. They all need our support and they don’t know where to start because some of them don’t speak English.

Helping others in need will make you feel better about yourself and benefits the community, too. It doesn’t mean that to help you have a lot. It’s just having a good heart and a place or room in your heart to feel that you can help while making the person you helped be happy. The good thing in offering help to people from different countries is that you get more experience. For example, you make friends and learn different cultures from different people, which is a very good thing in life. The best thing in life to not to feel hopeless and to get up and do something. Don’t always wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill yourself with hope. No one has ever become poor by helping. Offering help to others is like the rent you pay for your room here on Earth. Please let’s all set our hearts on doing good. Our greatest successes in life are often found in helping others succeed. Let us do it over and over again, and we will be filled with joy in our heart.

Liliane Uwamahroro

Rwanda