CHARLOTTE — A Union County High School senior says the Spanish language has changed her life – and has allowed her to help other kids who aren’t as fortunate.
Anabeth Tomalis started reading books to kids in Spanish when she was in elementary school. When asked if she came from a Spanish-speaking home, Tomalis smiles and says, “No, not all.”
In 2012, Tomalis says she started learning the language as a kindergartner.
She was one of the first students to go through the inaugural Spanish dual language immersion program at Union County Public Schools.
“It was almost half and half – we’d have a science class in English one day and we’d have it Spanish the next day,” Tomalis tells Channel 9′s Gina Esposito.
Now, as a senior at Sun Valley High School, Tomalis considers herself fluent in Spanish.
Looking back at her experience, she credits her teachers for the appreciation she has – not only for the language, but for the people who the grew up with Spanish as their first language.
“Honestly, I feel like it’s changed my life for the better. I’ve been able to just have a broad perspective on things instead of being so closed-minded. It’s opened my eyes to a lot of cultural things,” Tomalis says.
Over the years, Tomalis says she’s been inspired to use her Spanish to give back.
“We’ve been able to have the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica and work with local elementary schools there who are in need and play soccer and talk with them in Spanish,” Tomalis says.
This school year, Tomalis came up with an idea to support a certain group of local elementary and middle school students she says are often overlooked.
“I started a club this year with my best friend Hailey called Espanol Especiale, and it really helps students with special abilities, giving them that true opportunity to learn Spanish,” Tomalis says. “It gives you that perspective of like wow, not every child has that opportunity that I did.”
That club is just one of many things Tomalis does in her spare time.
In October, Union County leaders presented Tomalis with the John H. Crowder Service Award, which recognized a number of other community service and volunteer projects she’s a part of.
Tomalis says she wouldn’t have been able to reach as many people if it wasn’t for her early exposure to a love language.
“It’s paid off amazingly. And now that I’ve been doing interpreting, it’s provided so many opportunities that I never would’ve had,” Tomalis says.
Tomalis is currently working on a certification at a local community to be an English-Spanish court interpreter.
She’s also set to be one of the first students to earn a biliteracy global seal.
After she graduates in the spring, Tomalis plans to go to a four-year college, and utilize her Spanish in a career in sports management.
Watch Channel 9′s full interview with Anabeth Tomalis on Eyewitness News at 5 p.m.
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