From Student to Staffer to Mentor

On a recent Monday at Catholic Charities Boston El Centro, a prospective student for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program stopped by Ilsi’s office to find out where he could apply for a class.

It was just a few years ago that Ilsi was one of those prospective students. And today, she works as a student support counselor for Catholic Charities, supporting ESOL students who are going through similar experiences she did.

“When I am talking with the students, I understand their frustrations and the hard times they could be having,” she said. “Because when you are learning a new language, you are your own enemy.”

Catholic Charities Boston Refugee and Immigrant Services welcomed Ilsi and her family at Boston Logan Airport after they fled Central America during the pandemic. She said the challenges were overwhelming at the beginning. Not only having to leave their home, but coming to a place where they didn’t have connections, where they didn’t know the language or the people.

“We had a lot of concerns,” Ilsi noted. “I didn’t even know how I would be able to get or prepare food from my own country.”

But it was her pursuit to learn English that gave Ilsi greater confidence, led her to her job, her found community, and the life she lives today. She first began taking ESOL classes at Labouré about a month after arriving in Boston, before moving to classes at El Centro. Perseverance, patience, and the support of El Centro staff carried Ilsi through the program.

“I saw a lot of effort,” Ilsi said, thinking back to when she started ESOL classes. “That is the first world that comes to mind, and determination. For me, it was not easy.”

There are many nuances to the English language, Ilsi noted, including comprehension. In Spanish, how a word is written is how you pronounce it; in English, that is not always the case. “There are many sounds in English that we don’t have in Spanish, like the combination of ‘th’,” she said. “In English, you need to read and pronounce it differently.”

She overcame those challenges to complete the program. But her learning did not stop there. With the encouragement of El Centro staff, Ilsi enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College. And through the same effort and determination, she graduated with honors this past May, earning her associate’s degree.

“El Centro is my family here in the U.S.,” Ilsi said. “The first person I met when I came to this country was Mayenny Vasquez. She was our case manager who brought my family food, prepared our documents, and enrolled my children in school. Now, she is my colleague. I am grateful to have her by my side. You always need someone on your side telling you that you can do it.”

After several years in classrooms, Ilsi said she is taking an education hiatus. But not a long one. She is already speaking with advisors at UMass Boston about pursuing her bachelor’s degree.