An elementary teacher named Annmarie Small who resides in Florida has just become an official U.S. citizen! She was able to make it happen with the support and love from her students being in the courtroom with her. Annmarie came to the U.S. 18 years ago, dreaming of a better life for her son. “I was struggling financially in Jamaica and even having a master’s degree, I wasn’t able to make ends meet,” Annmarie explains about her previous situation.
She was soon hired to teach at Cornerstone Learning Academy in Tallahassee and was able to become part of their loving community. The speech that she gave in the courtroom was about how her school and community taught her what it really means to be an American.
Annmarie Small is living the American Dream
“They have shown me that America … is more than a place of glamour, fancy cars, red carpets, ball gowns and stilettos — though I do love my stilettos,” Annmarie says. “America is beyond just the material things.”
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In the courtroom sat many of her students, both past and present. They would all celebrate with a much-deserved party afterward. “I’m really proud of her and I think she’s pretty proud too,” says one of Annmarie’s students, Kalliope Flom.
In conclusion, Annmarie goes on to say that she hopes her story serves as a life lesson for her students. “It doesn’t matter if you’re from a different country, everybody is the same,” she says. What a beautiful way to celebrate her U.S. citizenship! Congratulations to Annmarie Small and all her students on this incredible accomplishment.