Success through Education | Fernanda

Fernanda Silveira was born and raised in Yucatán, México. In the midst of studying biology in México, Fernanda made the decision to move to the United States. Fernanda settled in Bluffton, SC in 2016. Originally, Fernanda struggled in her new home. It was a challenge to balance her personal goals and get a grasp on a completely new language. Learning a new language was tough for Fernanda as she had to change the way she thought and expressed herself in English. Fernanda was confused and afraid at times but never considered quitting.

Motivated by a love of learning, Fernanda decided to double down on her efforts to learn English. In 2017, Fernanda began taking classes to improve her English and became part of a larger community working towards the same goals. She found comfort in the classes and learned English skills, as well as the importance of giving back to the community.

As someone who came from a different country and learned English, Fernanda felt called to help others who are in the same position she was a few years back. After advancing her English skills and becoming fluent, Fernanda decided to give back by becoming a Beginner English as a Second Language volunteer tutor. Fernanda not only taught her students English skills but also was also continually learning and fine-tuning her own English skills.

When asked about the most rewarding part of the tutoring experience and the students she worked with Fernanda said,

“Giving others the opportunity to embrace and appreciate who they are as students and creating a classroom where they can establish and develop their talents can ultimately benefit their families and most importantly themselves.”

While Fernanda was enjoying giving back to her community, she still had individual goals for her own personal and professional development. Fernanda began taking classes through Bluffton Self Help’s GED Prep Program in order to increase her employability and achieve a long-time goal of receiving her GED, fully in English. Fernanda worked diligently in her GED classes and stayed motivated with the help of her GED subject tutors. Fernanda expanded her vocabulary, studied frequently, and took responsibility for her own learning and achievement.

In October of 2022, Fernanda met her ultimate goal and received her GED, which launched her career to new heights. Fernanda took on a new job at a local preschool where she is able to put her love of teaching to work and continue to give students the opportunity to grow as students, similar to the way she did.