“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” -Frank Smith

Amidst one of the busiest months of the school year, a select few students prepare for yet another challenge: obtaining the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Beginning in June of 2012, the State Seal of Biliteracy aimed to recognize students who had gained proficiency in not only one language but two.

Achieving the Seal is not an  easy task. Even those wishing to apply to attempt to receive the Seal must meet a rather discouragingly long list of criteria. Among the requirements include passing a foreign language advanced placement test, maintaining at least a 2.0 grade point average all years of high school, and completing and passing all English courses required for graduation.

Even after meeting what appears to be an endless amount of requirements, students can then begin the process.

Next students must head onto the computers in order to showcase their talent before even attempting to dream of earning the Seal.

Senior at Pitman, Kevin Aghassi Lelham, describes the process in further detail:

“You first have to sign up for it at your school district and then you have to go on Google Docs and answer some questions and there is also an on demand writing where you write an essay and respond to a prompt in the language of your choosing. You then go to the interview where they interview you in your language and then in English.”

Not only do these bilingual gurus have to prove they can both talk the talk and write the write in the language they are testing in, the tension surmounts as they are required to prove their proficiency in English as well.

Another senior at Pitman, Emely Ibarra, explains how she had to overcome her nerves in order to complete even the English part of the interview.

“ I was already nervous because after coming from the Spanish one, I thought I wouldn’t make it,” says Emely, “but as the English interview went on I got less and less nervous and became more confident. I realized they really just wanted to talk to you.”

So if getting through a few short answer questions, one whole, essay, and two interviews was not enough to deplete these students of every drop of their mental brain power, next comes the most rigorous, trying time of all… the waiting.

After beginning the process in March of 2016, and completing all of the steps, the students had to wait roughly a month before hearing a response.

Alas, after weeks, the notifications poured in.

The Superintendent, Tom Changnon, who was there to present the Seals explained, “over 100 students applied and approximately 200 got the seal.”

This feat, achieved by several students at Pitman High School, was by no means common.

Kevin explains his excitement in obtaining the seal, stating, “It’s a reflection of society that whenever we put our mind to something we can get something out of it, and to me it shows that I worked hard for something and it’s an accomplishment that I’m proud of.”

Biology teacher Mrs. Esquibel, who attended the ceremony, explains her excitement when seeing her student Emely receive the award:

“All I have to say is that I have known Emely for so many years now and I have been watching her grow in biology and academically and even watching her grow in leadership these past couple of years. And then to top it off with the Seal! I went home and shared with my kids who go to Osborne and are also trying to achieve the bilingual literacy. I just held her up as a model and I hold her up as my only child. I was just incredibly proud of her. It was a very sentimental moment.”

Kevin and Emely both went on to explain how the Seal serves as a benefit as they apply for colleges. Achieving such an award is definitely a feat by all means.

So not only do these inspiring multilinguals earn an award done by so few every year, but they also earn a chance to impress colleges, and indulge in swarms of confidence. But more importantly, by earning the Seal, these students have opened a lifetime of opportunities that extend beyond the realm of high school. Congratulations to all of those who received the State Seal of Biliteracy.