Alma Angelina Masquifelt

Becoming a Fire Polished Diamond Alma Angelina Masquifelt

Many times students start school and face many stressful and challenging situations. Some students can relate to feeling like a misfit and act up or withdraw. How many of our students can relate to not knowing the language well enough or not being in the same social status group?

This is a story about a young girl, Angelina, who feels like an outsider and feels inferior. Growing up in a home where her first language is Spanish she feels incompetent and cannot relate well to others.

However, Juanito, a new boy, comes into her classroom and saves the day. Angelina is immediately drawn to him because he is Hispanic like she is. He instills confidence in her and helps her learn to read, write, and speak more fluently. Before long this shy little girl becomes bold and confident. Angelina feels she can climb mountains and because of her success makes many new friends.

Angelina learns to look for commonalities in people rather than differences. She learns core values and principles through her parents, her family, her teacher, and her friends.

It is an inspiring story of how a teacher's love made a beautiful impact on so many different students. It is also a beautiful story of a parent's love, and a friendship that blossomed. All the way around, this is a heartwarming story of love that transcends gender and race. We realize a diamond is cut and polished by love.