Nandkumar.Bijlani 

                         
  A.S.P.I.R.E. PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP

 

"How has the ASPIRE program contributed to your educational goal?"

 

    As I sit back and introspect I wonder what would have been my fate without ASPIRE! Probably I would have ended up washing dishes, vacuuming and doing some chores at home, cut off from the world. 

 Three years back when I came from India to live with my daughter in Evergreen Valley , San Jose, my state was no better than a dumb and deaf.  I knew English but the American English was way different!  People spoke so fast in a different accent, different pronunciation and that everything would go over my head! Often I landed in a funny and ridiculous situation. I wondered what was in a” Cup of Sex" when people said "I'll be back in a couple of seconds".  If I asked for "Material for American English basics" I was directed to the "Basics Department.” in a Macy's store. Such incidents would recur off and on. I was fed up, nervous, and paranoid.  

    One fine day I learned that at a walking distance from my house there was Evergreen Valley College, which conducted a special program called ASPIRE. (Asian/Pacific Islander Resources for Excellence).  I registered for it. Aah!   It was like finding a new world. "ASPIRE" was the answer to all my baffling Q's. I was amazed to realize that ASPIRE had diligently scrutinized the issues concerning Asian/Pacific Islanders and designed an exclusive program to meet the challenges of persons like me.  

 ASPIRE doesn't just offer courses in teaching English as a second language. IT DOES A LOT .  It will not be out of line to say that it almost adopts you as a baby and nurtures you till you become worth something and stand on your legs.

 When you land as a stranger in a foreign country, you are bewildered and skeptical whether you will be accepted. The first comfortable  feeling that I had after enrolling with ASPIRE was that I was most welcomed and considered just one of them, irrespective of my age, gender, ethnic or cultural background.

They started from the very grass root level (( From ABCDEFG......Now I know my ABC. Next time will you sing with me?)  to the final goal.

Initially my aptitude was assessed, propensity judged, and educational goal planned . Firstly the foundation was prepared by teaching English communication skills and developing basic computer skills. Side by side, I was guided to take some career classes in Business Information Systems. I am not yet through. But  now I feel confident. I think I can stand on my own feet. 

  "ASPIRE", like the parents, keeps a close eye on your progress. If you can't cope up or if you lag in your studies, they provide you special tutoring. Candidly I don't think, even parents can afford to provide so much time, attention, and expenditure. 

ASPIRE literally mentors you. I am sure the management carefully selects

a culturally diverse team of professional counselors and  mentors with specialized training in working with diverse people, discreet, friendly, compassionate, and knowing human psychology well.  

 Thanks and God Bless ASPIRE. & Evergreen Valley College.