Empowering voices: MATC students share their stories in fifth edition of ‘Sharing Our World’ book

On Friday, April 26, students and faculty at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) gathered to celebrate the release of the “Sharing Our World” book. The fifth edition of the book was developed in the past five years by MATC’s community education pathway and features over 200 stories from students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

Erin Helland, an ESL instructor at MATC, shared her thoughts on the importance of the book. “I think students feel a very strong sense of pride like wow, my work is published, look at this, and not only that, I can read my story in English, in front of people,” she said. The book includes poetry, essays, and other personal journeys from students who have come from forty-seven different countries.

The release of the “Sharing Our World” book was met with enthusiasm from both students and faculty at MATC. It provides a platform for these students to share their experiences and connect with others who may have similar backgrounds or challenges. Through their writing, they are able to express themselves in a new language and gain confidence in their abilities.