3/21/19

To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing today in support of Neishalys Gonzalez, who is seeking admittance into your fine
institution. I first met Neishalys in 2017 when she was part of a summer enrichment program for ESL
students. Later, I had her as a student in my American History class.

When you meet Neishalys, one of the first things you notice about her is her confidence. This is
especially striking given the fact that she was new to the mainland United States and was now expected
to learn in English, her second language. Her cool confidence allows her to take challenges head-on,
which gives Neishalys the ability and opportunity to discover and create opportunity for herself. What
may be even more impressive, is that this confidence rarely if ever crosses into arrogance. Neishalys is
humble enough to know when she needs help and is not shy in asking. In a time when more and more
students are afraid to be wrong or need explicit instruction on what to do, it is both a relief and
refreshing to have someone who is bold enough to set out on their own, but is also intelligent enough to
know where she needs guidance.

Almost as quickly as you notice Neishalys’ confidence, the source of her confidence reveals
itself: her intelligence. Rarely have I seen Neishalys apply herself and be unable to come to a conclusion
or get to the root of a problem in a social studies class. Keep in mind again, that this is a student born in
Puerto Rico who is not always exposed to the same history or cultural touch stones as many of her
classmates. Neishalys can quickly and effectively identify the social circumstances that created the Great
Migration through document analysis in her second language. Her mind can simultaneously support the
cognitive load of historical inquiry and decoding a second language. Many students struggle with both of
these activities as singular endeavors, but she can do them at the same time every single day.

Neishalys is a young woman with as much potential as I have seen in my time as a teacher. She
understands what it means to be a hard worker. She understands what it means to be a good student. I
believe she is the student that every university should be looking for: a confident, intelligent student
with the potential to do anything matched with the grit to get the job done. She is exactly the type of
student who could become an unstoppable force when armed with the knowledge and skills in a field
she loves. I cannot recommend her highly enough. Feel free to email me with any questions at
stroneskim@newlondon.org.

Best regards,

Michael Stroneski
Social Studies Teacher
New London High School