|
|
| Durham Tech Home > Student Profiles > University Transfer Student Profiles |
Student Profiles |
Notes from the Field: ASUT Graduate Expands His Horizons in China Before moving to China, I was admittedly full of apprehension. What would it be like to live in a place with such a significantly different culture? How could I be an English teacher, when I don’t speak a lick of Mandarin Chinese? I had been accepted to UNC through the C-STEP program, but had already deferred enrollment for one year in order to teach English in China. Plus, I had been planning this trip for months—and had already used virtually all of my life’s savings to purchase a pricey plane ticket. Having passed the point of no return, all I could do was cross my fingers and hope for the best. A city of almost three and a half million people called Ningbo—17 times the size of Durham—has become my new home. I am teaching English to kindergarteners, which is challenging yet lots of fun. The education system is structured a bit differently in China, and kindergartens are separate schools that house 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds. I have 26 classes a week with about 15 students in each class, for a grand total of more than 400 students! This may be the biggest gripe I have with my job—with so many students, getting to know the kids on a personal level, or even remembering their names, is next to impossible. The classes are only a half hour each, which is a saving grace when working with the younger classes. Attention spans tend to be short. After almost three months of living and teaching English in China, I am admittedly still full of apprehension. The times when I feel completely overwhelmed, while far less frequent than my first week here, have not yet fully subsided. Nor do I expect them to. After all, I spent 24 years living in the United States, following its customs and cultural norms (and learning the language!). I can only imagine that it would require a similar length of time to truly learn how an entirely different society functions (and learn the language!). I have come to believe that the majority of the value in this experience is derived from the moments when I am most confused, uncomfortable, and otherwise out of my element. These moments demonstrate both the difficulty and the beauty of living in China. |
| Other ASUT Student Profiles |
 Durham Tech was good to me. Early on, I took the ACA College Transfer Success class and made it a goal to transfer to NC State for engineering. Durham Tech was close; it was clean and organized. I always had a comfortable, quiet place to study and a green, sunny place to eat lunch. My classes were small, and my teachers were helpful. I formed lifetime friendships with people I met at Durham Tech. Thanks to the affordable tuition, financial aid, and a weekend job, I was able to transfer to NC State debt-free. I enjoyed my time at Durham Tech and am thankful that it helped me realize my goal.
William T. Lewis Jr. |
 Just months after moving to the United States from India, I enrolled at Durham Technical Community College
as a way to eventually move into a four-year university. I knew very little about the academic system in the United States. Although I spoke and understood English quite well, my understanding of American culture was limited. I am glad Durham Tech became a stepping stone for my college career, because the college’s rich diversity helped me to adjust better. The teachers and the friends that I found there were supportive of me. They also helped me to better understand the American education system and cultural system.
The teachers from Durham Tech were incredibly easy to talk to and were extremely kind with their guidance. Opportunities like Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and Carolina Student Transfer Excellency Program (C-STEP) at Durham Tech enabled me to go further with my academic goals and be more of a well-rounded individual. The teachers who taught me at Durham Tech were understanding of my qualms about fitting in. I earned my AS degree from Durham Tech and transferred to Carolina in Fall 2009. Even though my initial semester after transferring to UNC- Chapel Hill was extremely difficult, I was able to pull through and be on the dean’s list for my last two semesters there. Though I had to change my study habits after my first semester at UNC, my academic experiences and positive encourage-ment from my mentors at Durham Tech helped me to work hard and wisely for my successes. Today, I have an Anthropology degree with a Religious Studies minor from UNC- Chapel Hill. I credit this to the advantages and openings that I experienced at Durham Tech, my parents, and God's grace. Anly Thomas |
 Develop a Solid Foundation for Transfer to a Four-yaar College or University “DTCC is not just a community college. It is a wonderful place where university transfer students, regardless of their background, get a solid foundation to transfer to a university of their choice. My experience at DTCC is unforgettable. With the support and help of my instructors and DTCC's staff, I was able to focus on school work and to eventually succeed. DTCC was indeed the bridge to my academic success. It was there that I got the crucial foundation to pursue my higher education.” Nadege Delake |
"I am pursuing a degree in engineering coming from a non-engineering background and moved to the Triangle for its education. This decision was difficult because mathematics was not a foundation for my previous careers, and I had to start all over from Trigonometry at Durham Tech. “I am currently enrolled at NC State but I'm taking Calc II at Durham Tech this semester and have a few things to say about Durham Tech. In my opinion, the quality of Durham Tech's education is equal to that of NC State. In fact, it is better for beginning and intermediate courses because Durham Tech's learning environment is more supportive. For instance, Durham Tech has a full-time tutorial center available to its students at no cost. NC State does not have such a formal support program, and the atmosphere can be competitive, with less supportiveness among students. “I have come a very long way in my mathematical proficiency at Durham Tech and could not have done it elsewhere. I feel we are fortunate to have Durham Tech, and at such an affordable cost. Durham Tech is a wonderful resource of, and credit to, North Carolina. For the student pursuing an undergraduate or Master’s degree, taking courses here to transfer out later is a very good strategy.” Sam Kwak |
 University Transfer Student Returns to Durham Tech Born and raised in Belém, a city at the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil, Natalia Silva Harwood remembers carrying loads of dirty laundry in baskets on her head from the homes of wealthier families to her home. There her mother would pump water and wash the clothes before Natalia and her brother carried them back to their owners. One of her friends taught Natalia a few words in English, and she became fascinated by the language. When her father brought home a discarded English textbook he found in the trash, then-ten-year-old Natalia spent hours learning the words by using the book’s glossary. “Ever since I was little, I was focused on getting an education,” she recalled. As a teen, Natalia met one of her mother’s employers, Silvia, who worked for a cultural exchange organization that teaches English as a Second Language and facilitates study abroad in Brazil. “Silvia became my guardian angel. She paid my tuition to attend a private school to learn English,” said Natalia, who eventually went to work for Silvia advising students interested in studying abroad. In the fall of 2001, having moved to the United States, Natalia decided to enroll at Durham Technical Community College. It took her four years to finish her Associate in Arts degree, and she is quick to encourage first-generation college students and international students not to rush or feel discouraged if their programs take longer than expected. “It takes time to adjust. If you are first-generation and you don’t have a support network, it takes a while to understand the system, how things work,” she said. After Natalia graduated from Durham Tech, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Management degree online through the University of Phoenix while working to support herself. Then she applied and was accepted to George Washington University in Washington, DC. She completed a Master of Education degree in school counseling. Of her accomplishments she said, “I had to beat so many odds coming from a bad environment. In Belém, if you get a college degree and then graduate with a Master’s from George Washington, you’re a star!” At Durham Tech, we agree. On March 1, Natalia began her new job at the college as a program assistant for the Center for the Global Learner. She will work with international students and program directors on educational programs and support systems that encourage cultural exchange and global education. Natalia credits Durham Tech faculty with encouraging her to continue her education. The faculty here “just get it,” she said. “They have knowledge and patience. They guide students through the steps and walk with us – until they realize we are ready to do it on our own. Then they let go and let the students shine, but they are still there if we need them.” Natalia Silva Hawood |
| Read more student profiles |
|
Durham Technical Community College Copyright
©Durham Technical Community College. All Rights Reserved. |
