Image: Newton and Jenna

My name is Newton Cazzaro, and I am an international student from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two years ago, I met a girl, “Jenna,” during my sister’s wedding (she married an American) here in Reno, Nevada. Since then, I decided to study English and mathematics to then start digging really deep towards my dream. Since I was a child my dream was always to study computer sciences in order to become a computer scientist. 

In December 2010, I came to Reno, Nevada and took English classes at the IELC (Intensive English Language Center) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). There, I studied English for one semester, and even though I was studying intensively every day, I had a hard time learning English since I was very limited. In order to achieve the minimum level of English required on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) that would allow me to apply to an American University, I had to take it twice before I passed. 

Today, I am an English tutor at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), where I help ESL (English as a Second Language) students from all over the world to improve their English and do better while in college. I like making friends and knowing more about different cultures, so my job makes me a very happy person. 

I believe that as human beings, we are all capable of doing amazing things and it depends on us as individuals to put enough effort towards those things. For example, even though I’ve never had contact with the English language before I arrived in Reno, it did not slow me from learning it quickly, yet it was not easy.

As an ESL tutor, I precisely say that language is definitely a major issue that international students have to deal with, and it is a very painful barrier to overcome during their journey towards their goals. I really enjoy learning so much every day, every time I say a word in the amazingly complex language that is the English.  Sometimes, students ask me what I did to reduce my accent (not that I think it is that good) the way I did in just two years, and I answer the same thing to all of them: “You can do it too, but it depends just on you, and how much effort you want to put into it.”  Often, they keep staring at me like if they were thinking: “You know what? Maybe he is right!”  This is something everyone should know; the things we do will reflect directly on our capacity of understanding the surrounding universe better. Working hard is the only way to successfully achieve goals, objectives, desires, dreams, respect, and even love.

Newton with Mom, Dad & Jenna