Page 12 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2026 - Online Magazine
P. 12
Inspirational
Finding Purpose
INDIVIDUAL
Between Two Worlds
by Monika Pechacek
y name is Monika, and Czech Republic, the country where
I come from the Czech I was born, raised, and educated,
MRepublic—the beautiful and moved across the ocean to West
historic city of Olomouc. It is Texas. My husband, a chemical
a place full of history, culture, engineer, had received a job
and memories that shaped who opportunity in Texas, and, together
I am today. Growing up in such with our children, we began a
a place naturally sparked my new chapter in a place that was
interest in history from an early completely unfamiliar to us. When I
age. My grandparents, who were arrived, I didn’t know any English.
survivors of World War II, had a Everything felt new—different
deep influence on me. Their stories streets, different customs, different
about difficult times, courage, sounds, and even a different
and perseverance inspired me to rhythm of life. Starting over in
learn more about the past and to another country is both exciting and
appreciate the strength of those frightening. At times, the distance
who lived through it. In my from home felt overwhelming. I
home country, I graduated from missed my family, my culture, and
college with a degree in Public the comfort of everything I once
Administration Law, and, like knew.
many young people, I imagined
my future unfolding close to home, But life also has a beautiful way of
surrounded by familiar places and sending the right people into our textbooks into the classroom—we
family. paths. One of those people was my carried homesickness, uncertainty,
ESL teacher at church, Ms. Dianne. and the challenge of building a
Life, however, sometimes leads us She was not only an excellent life in a new land. With patience,
on unexpected paths. In 2017, my teacher, but also an extraordinary kindness, and a warm heart, she
life changed in a way I could never human being. She understood that helped us learn English, but, even
have imagined. I left my home in the her students carried more than just more importantly, she helped us
12 Lubbock Senior Link
