Maria Hetchler worked as a Realtor in Indonesia when she met her future husband in 2016. She was excited to move to her husband’s hometown in the Twin Cities, MN, and start her new life. Though excited about her new family life, she knew it would be challenging to find a fulfilling new career with language and cultural barriers common to many who come to the US from other countries. Maria’s first steps in her journey were enrolling in the English for Academic Purposes (EAPP) program and gaining confidence in her communication skills.

Married to a Paramedic who works at HCMC, Maria was intrigued by the opportunity to pursue a healthcare career. Enrolled in the EAPP program, she looks forward to beginning Health Science courses, hoping to eventually work as a Respiratory Therapist. Maria loves meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and feels welcomed on campus. She explained that she even feels the warmth of her campus community on cold days, such as we have had recently. Though thousands of miles away from her native country, Maria feels at home on the SPC campus.

Maria’s future career is still evolving, but she is excited to build her confidence through the EAPP program and transition into the Respiratory Therapy career field with a new-found belief that she can learn those skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others in the days ahead.

Excited to gain self-confidence in her future career aspirations, Maria is already comfortable connecting with her hometown roots through native dancing in the vibrant Saint Paul community.

Our English for Academic Purposes program provides non-native English speakers with the language skills necessary to thrive in an academic setting. The program focuses on reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills that help students gain self-confidence and increase their potential for success working in a new environment.