The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Step --lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher
In 2003, Hien Kim Lam (Kim) and Fengyan Ada Cen (Ada) knew that mastering English would be an essential tool to help them navigate tough terrain during their educational journey which has taken five years.
Kim and Ada (Vietnamese and Chinese, respectively) began the academic endeavor in a Continuing Education ESL Class at Mid-City Campus, where the young women met.
In December, both girls completed classes to graduate from SDSU with baccalaureate degrees and plan to participate in commencement ceremonies this May.
At Continuing Education, the girls initially attended ESL classes, sometimes spending up to eight hours in class each day. “We didn’t know what would happen after we learned English,” said Ada. “We just knew it had to be our first step.”
Ada completed her high school diploma in China, so she could continue her education in the US after she mastered English. Her short-term goal was ESL, but her long-term goals included a four-year degree.
Similar to Ada, Kim’s long-term goal was also to receive a four-year degree—in accounting. Her pathway was somewhat different than Ada’s; however, as Kim also needed to pass the GED exam.
Instructors Paul Herron and Sheila Shaw worked in tandem with counselors, Diane Goldberg, Sherri Bartlett and Roy Hernandez to help the girls make the most of their journeys by helping them navigate the educational maze.
“What was unusual about Kim and Ada was that they wanted to accomplish their education together,” said Diane. “They had their essential support system built into their goals from the very first ESL classes, which helped them to be immediately successful.”
An example of how the two used a teamwork approach for emotional support as well as homework was when learning groups would form within classes, the girls made certain that each would go with a separate group to maximize their exposure to ideas and learning. Then, the two would meet after class and share their new knowledge.
“After we understood that both Kim and Ada had goals that included four-year degrees, we encouraged them to take full advantage of the paths available to them,” said Diane. “Matriculation to college was a good fit for both, so in addition to ESL classes, and ABE classes for Kim, we recommended computer classes for both girls that would transfer to college credit.”
With coordination between counselors at Continuing Education and the EOPS program at City, the girls then traveled successfully in 2004 to City College, where both completed two-year degrees in accounting.
The last stop on the girls’ journey was a four-year institution. Like a trusty compass, the transferred admission guarantee program at City offered the reliable direction they needed. Counselors helped the girls understand guaranteed admission to either SDSU or UCSD based on an agreement between City and those four-year institutions.
Associate degrees in hand, the girls made it to their final destination in 2006 when they transitioned successfully to SDSU.
“I would tell anyone who wants to go to college, but cannot speak English, to start at Continuing Education,” said Kim. “The counselors and ESL instructors at the Mid City campus gave me confidence to take the first steps, and then to keep going until I achieved my goals.”
Ada presented an interesting analogy about her educational experience. “My four year degree is like a ticket to a cinema,” said Ada, “Once inside the theatre, it is up to me how I use my education and my experiences to determine what happens for me.” She indicated that if her four-year degree was from Harvard, she might get a front row seat, but her SDSU degree gets her inside to see the movie.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”