Being an experienced psychologist in Colombia didn’t matter when Aydee came to the United States four years ago. She quickly realized she would have to perfect her English skills to have a career in her new country and experience the American dream.
Working restaurant jobs on weekends and evenings, Aydee wanted a more stable life for her family. She enrolled in English as a Second Language classes through Central Piedmont Community College and took resume and job readiness workshops at the South Boulevard JobLink. Those experiences gave her the courage to register for Goodwill’s Banking and Customer Service training program–which is taught in English.
In addition to computer and typing skills, Aydee says the class prepared her for cultural differences in the workplace, and taught her how to sell herself during an interview. Today, she is proud of her administrative assistant job with a law firm and enjoys being home in the evenings and weekends to spend time with her husband and 13-year-old daughter.
“I am so proud to say I work in a law firm,” says Aydee, who hopes to pursue an MBA in the future. “I like the person I see in the mirror.”
Her advice to anyone with a language barrier: don’t give up.
“The opportunities are there. You have to go find it,” Aydee adds. “This is just the beginning. I have my dreams and I have many things to look forward to.”
Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts we’ll be sharing each week. We’ll publish a success story every Friday to get your weekend started off on a positive note! To read previously published Success Story Friday posts, click here.
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