Alexandra Smith’2012
True Story
Two years ago, I found myself in here, on American soil with pockets full of dreams. By the end
of my summer program I knew I’ve jumped up a couple of levels in self-esteem, fear,
resourcefulness, luck, pain, love and many new things too. I felt exactly like that guy from the
Terminal, not because of the accent and weird hair, because I know how it feels when you are
stuck between inexistent future back in Russia and a dream to be fulfilled in America.
That’s when I came to see international advisor at the LoneStar College, to find out what
opportunities are there for me. And that’s a step one in a range of major shifts in life. I think it
was meant to be. I was meant to be surprised that there are actually people who want to help you
that my case is something they can work with, that options for me are as diverse as for others,
that I can get a chance. I was working towards that, pulling myself closer to the future in which I
am coming to LoneStar College to study. I don’t know how it is for you, but for me the very
minute I came to campus I was excited and couldn’t wait to be a part of it. It was so simple to
imagine and so hard to believe, that I could find great people, amazing teachers and be inspired
to do the best.
There is something special about that billboard that I pass everyday, where the LoneStar college
is an open door. For a person, who looks from the dark room this crack of light is everything. All
of a sudden, for me that door was closed. After the work we’ve done with my adviser, I went to
see my attorney and that’s where the plans started to crumble. In a nut shell, I couldn’t get in
school because of the visa that I had. If I wanted to go further, that would mean very far - go
back to Russia and see if I would get a new visa. There is no need to explain, how that shrank my
chances. Just dealing with immigration, two governments and time seemed impossible to me, on
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Alexandra Smith’2012
the other hand staying in a country where I don’t have anyone, where I can wait and might be
able to get in school sounded even scarier. But I was too close to my dream, to let the fear
overcome.
After two years of holding on, of missing my family, working too hard trying to prove myself
best, founding the love of my life, learning how to drive and not pass the test from the first try, I
finally get in my first semester at Lonestar College-Tomball. And it’s the best start I could have
imagined.
From the very beginning, they build the communication to meet your needs and help you achieve
your goals. They inspire your through their own stories on the freshmen meeting at the
Performing Center, they promise to be there. And they do. It’s been three months of the journey
and there is so many things to enjoy and appreciate. From the Russian flag in the Commons, to
the best library ever, you build your education path. What is more important, just like you, they
appreciate your time and try to make as efficient as it can be: cheap copies, available computers,
books online, research database- it all makes such a big difference.
These classes changed my outlook. The algebra is a science to travel in time, since I didn’t
practice it since five years ago. My English teacher as passionate as can be and building English
skills is precious, the environment class brought the whole sense to life around me and the
government class is there to be proud of where you live.
I wanted to say that the impact on my life can never be estimated, because it’s more than too
much. I love my college, the future that they help me built and I promise to do my best not to let
them down and spread the word.
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