Yanbin, College Connections |
Determined to provide their only child with a better education and more opportunities, Yanbin Zhang’s parents decided to move their small family to Vermont from southeastern China three years ago. With the move, however, came new challenges for both Yanbin and her parents. The intricacies of the American high school system were difficult to navigate, and despite being a dedicated, motivated student, Yanbin struggled to improve her language skills without guidance and was often lost in classes that emphasized participation and communication.
When Yanbin heard that LLL was offering a TOEFL Prep class, she jumped at the opportunity to improve her score on the standardized test of English and increase her chances of being accepted at a top college. Through the six-week program, Yanbin drastically improved her English grammar and vocabulary skills and also connected with other high school students from Somalia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Sudan, learning that she was far from the only student facing the challenges of high school in a new community. According to Yanbin, the course’s teacher—a linguistics professor from Saint Michael’s College—not only was an expert on teaching English grammar but was also very patient and eager to help her students. Today, Yanbin recognizes the difference the course has made in her life. “When I speak, I think more about grammar,” she says, “This program helps link us to the community.”
At the same time, however, Yanbin did not feel challenged by her high school math courses and wanted to have a more advanced math foundation before beginning college. After discussing College Connections’ dual enrollment options with Dhyana Bradley, the program’s coordinator, Yanbin decided to enroll in Calculus II at the University of Vermont. Although Yanbin says she was initially “very nervous” about taking a college course, Dhyana’s support through the program has given her the confidence and reinforced her study skills to excel in her class. In fact, Yanbin has enjoyed the College Connections experience so much that she has already registered for an international business course at Champlain College next semester.
With advice and guidance from Simon Parlante, LLL’s Employment Training Specialist, Yanbin is now actively looking for a part-time job. Before she came to Simon, the job market was confusing and full of dead ends. Despite the setbacks, Yanbin says that she won’t be satisfied until she finds a place to work. Working one-on-one, Simon taught her how to ask for a job application, interview, and schedule her job hours. Yanbin is very optimistic that she’ll find a position at a local store and hopes that her first job will lay the foundation for further building her job skills.
Looking to the future, Yanbin plans on studying international business in college and is applying to schools in Vermont, Montreal, and Boston. Inspired by the friendships she has made through LLL’s programs, she hopes to one day have a job that will allow her to travel across the world, experiencing different countries and cultures. Yanbin highly recommends all students check out the opportunities from LLL. “It’s a great program,” she says, “If you have a chance, you should challenge yourself…it is worth it.”
