When María Alejandra Tortolero graduates on May 10, she will do so with a big smile on her face, and she will experience the same kind of elation a runner feels after completing a marathon. And even though she will miss her peers and the friends she has made, the satisfaction of having reached this momentous milestone will supercede any potential negative feelings.
Tortolero arrived in the United States from her native Venezuela three years ago, in search of the American Dream. Little by little, she has begun achieving it, but the experience has not been a bed of roses.
“People think that when you move to another country, everything changes. But in reality you’re still the same person,” Tortolero explained to MundoHispánico newspaper, with regards to overcoming her fears and learning how to rise above.
For Tortolero, perhaps the hardest part of her journey has been adapting to the “way of being of the people from here. Yes, in our countries it’s easier to connect, but when you do connect here, it’s a more lasting relationship,” she assured.
The young journalist came to the U.S. in order to finish her master’s degree, with a combined focus on business. In the process she discovered the Intensive English Program, an initiative offered through Georgia State University which seeks to teach the English language to international students and prepare them for their university studies.
“We are an English program, at the academic level. It’s not just general English, it’s an English that will teach them and prepare them for college. We aim to simulate their academic environment and teach them the same English that they will speak in their respective careers,” explained Alison Camacho, director of IEP.
According to Camacho, who is also a professor, the program has been in existence since 1998. Since its inception, more than 400 students have participated.
“If I hadn’t done the program, my grades in college would be terrible. It helped connect me with people who are now my bosses,” added Tortolero.
Her experience is exactly what the program is designed for, said Camacho. “Our purpose is to see students like María achieve their goals and realize their dreams.”
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