Student Stories

What is your dream? Whether it is heart-breaking or heart-warming, everyone has
a story to tell. Storytelling is an ancient art form and Rattapol Thania aspires to master the art of transforming your ideas, your dreams, and your personal stories into 21st century social media videos. His goal is to capture who we are in compelling images.

Rattapol’s own dream of utilizing visual images to tell a great story began in HatYai, Songkhla when he was a young boy. Growing up in this bustling city at the far southern tip of Thailand, Rattapol became determined to make his movie creation dream a reality.

Rattapol traveled from his home in HatYai to the ornate, shrine-filled capital of Bangkok, to take the first step in accomplishing his goal. In Bangkok, he excelled at Thammasat University, where he received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in film.

After graduation, he landed a job as an assistant film director with Wonderland Films where he assisted with the production of the award-winning short film, Prison Rat (“อีขี้คุก”). Prison Rat is a story about a former prisoner who turned her life around after her release from prison by becoming a singer musician. Through her music, she chronicles her journey from life as a convicted criminal to an inspirational performer. The Ministry of Justice released this video publicly as an uplifting message of hope intended to show prisoners and former inmates that it is possible to turn your life around. 


Inspired by his experiences at Wonderland Films, Rattapol moved to Chicago to continue growing as a storyteller. Rattapol feels that Computer Systems Institute (CSI) has provided him with a place to expand his knowledge of the global community. He believes learning at CSI is like traveling on a commercial flight. The passengers’ luggage all come in unique sizes, harboring individualized knowledge, cultures, and personalities. The exceptional faculty at CSI encourages their students to share among one another so no matter how small their suitcase is, the treasure inside will be meaningful to others. Additionally, CSI acts as the pilot who guides each valuable passenger toward their ultimate destination. For Rattapol, this means continuing his journey to reveal those untold stories waiting to be found.

From the big, bustling metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil, population 12.18 million, to Seekonk, Massachusetts, population 15,548 — that kind of change would put anyone into serious culture shock, but CSI’s Small Business Administration student Roberto Aparecido and his family took it in stride. They had good friends already living in Seekonk, which is why they chose the town, and they found a welcoming and ready-made community in a local church. No doubt, the large population of Portuguese speakers, shops, and restaurants in their town helped in their adjustment, and that their 7-year-old son was able to enroll in a bilingual school.



Roberto came to the US from Brazil with a degree and many years’ experience in Business Administration, seeking to learn English and take his life and his family in a new direction that would challenge all of them to learn and grow. Mission accomplished! He says every day offers new challenges, but “I enjoy challenges.” He sees challenges as opportunities to learn, and he does learn, because, he explains, “I like to do things well!” After spending about a year studying English, Roberto enrolled in CSI’s Small Business Administration Program.  He says he found his Bookkeeping class especially useful, because that is in his area of interest and is something he now uses every day at work. In addition to learning business and technical English, he has picked up some new skills and improved others, and is currently putting it all to use in an externship in a local company that manages construction projects.

The company he works for is small, with only about 10 employees, but the opportunity to learn and utilize the skills he is studying is huge. He says he’s quite happy being behind a desk all day, working with accounts payable and receivable, reconciling accounts, using QuickBooks, dealing with contractors, and learning about taxes, laws, insurance, liability, and construction in the US. “It’s a new industry, new language, and the laws are different, so I learn every day, but really, working in business administration in the US is not very different than in Brazil.”

It’s been two years now since they arrived in the US, and Roberto’s English has greatly improved. While he doesn’t feel fully fluent, and he says that the language is still a challenge, he understands very well and can usually find a way to express his ideas even if he still has to search for words.

Roberto says the whole family has really enjoyed the change of pace. Their life here is quieter and more family-centered; they have a great church and community of new friends, and he says they also really appreciate the safety of their town. They also have been enjoying the countryside and have three parks near their home where they like to go for long family walks.

What has surprised him most about the US? All the wooden buildings and the different style of homes. He has been impressed at all the structures and the size of structures that are made of wood here in the US. Another thing that jumped out at him was how much Americans respect the law. For instance, drivers actually stop at crosswalks to let pedestrians cross the street, and generally, drivers comply with laws more here – though he concedes that not all local drivers are polite and the potholes in Massachusetts roads are terrible. He also appreciates the clarity in prices and taxes: “Here you know what you are paying and why, it’s murkier in Brazil.”

He says the experience has changed him – and all of his family – for the better. “I think that having an experience outside your country is really important for a person. It gives you another view of life, another perspective. When we are away from home – living in a new language and culture, we need to step out of our comfort zone. Here, everyday there are challenges and every day we are learning. It changes your values and priorities.” Being an International Student at CSI has been a valuable experience for the whole family, which Roberto will utilize in his future academic and professional pursuits.

Daniel Cardona is originally from Colombia. He learned about Computer Systems Institute (CSI) during his vacation to Boston three years ago. Daniel was looking to study and develop his skills through getting an education in the U.S. Daniel was looking forward to be immersed in an international student environment. CSI has provided him with not only the opportunity to learn about business skills, but also to learn from the friends that he’s made from all over the world.

Daniel is currently enrolled in the Hospitality program. He really enjoys being here because this program allows students the opportunity to learn and practice their skills at the same time. He thinks that this is really helpful considering that he can apply his knowledge acquired in the classroom to his externship. Daniel thinks that being able to participate in the externship program is an opportunity
that will help him with his career in his home country.

Daniel’s current job is a supervisor at a restaurant chain. He told me: “CSI has given me the necessary tools and skills to utilize my talents and engage myself in academic and practical work. I really appreciate CSI.”

Daniel is a very hard-working student, he is always the first one who comes to the classroom, and submits the assignments on time. Inside the classroom, he participates in the lecture and works with his classmates collaboratively; outside of the classroom, he is very outgoing and easy to get along with.

Daniel is very enthusiastic about photography. He participated in a photography contest at the beginning of this quarter. His professionalism was very impressive and outstanding.

Although Daniel is already a success, he is also very humble. He listens to other people’s opinions and is eager to improve himself. In addition, he is willing to help other students when they feel confused either in study or in life. His enthusiasm has impressed everyone in the classroom. We are thrilled to have Daniel as a student and look forward to his contribution to make CSI a great institution.

 As the snow crunches under foot on a snowy Chicago morning, Stefany De Abreu can’t help but to dream a little of the warm, sandy beaches in her native Venezuela. But these dreams are not just about warmer, sunnier days. Stefany is dreaming about the future of her sister’s swimwear company, Citera.

Stefany studied accounting in Venezuela and International Business Management in Canada before coming to Chicago. The city of broad shoulders, with a rich history in economics, finance, and commerce, was a natural choice for her American adventure. Her long-term dream is to become a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), but for now she wants to learn more about how to grow a company through finance. She loves the way that numbers tell a story about a company. They not only tell us about the past, but they allow us to predict the future.

Stefany learned about Computer Systems Institute (CSI) through friends studying at the school. They thought it might be the right fit for her, and they were right. She looked into the Business Career Program (BCP) and liked what she saw. It featured a range of topics that she wanted to learn about, including Finance, Accounting, and Microsoft Word and Excel. Most importantly, though, it provided a structured program to better understand the foundations of entrepreneurship in the United States.

Now, at the end of her third quarter at CSI, she feels that she has accomplished much of what she set out to do and more. She particularly appreciated the opportunity that her last course, Introduction to Small Business Management, gave her. In addition to her dream of working in finance, she eagerly wants to help her sister to grow her swimwear business. Her capstone project for the course pushed her to develop a clearer vision of what is necessary to expand the reach of Citera from Venezuela to the United States.

Citera is a swimwear company that specializes in high-quality, beautiful and comfortable women’s swimsuits in an assortment of sizes and styles to accommodate all varieties of body styles and shapes. This mission served Citera well as the company blossomed in Venezuela, and Stefany believes it will succeed in American as well with the right business plan. She wants to work with her sister to bring Citera to Miami, and from there, the rest of the beaches in the world.

Let’s remind Stefany that Chicago has beaches, too….but best not to go there in a bikini until the ice melts.

Autumn in New England is well known for its beautiful foliage, crisp cool air, and mountain vistas located only a short drive from the city of Boston. The tipping of Earth on its axis and the changing of the sun’s light put a chill in the air and scarlet hues to the falling leaves. For many people who come to New England from other parts of the country and other parts of the world, Autumn is perhaps the best season to experience. For Jose “Roberto” Soares, moving to New England came with many opportunities and sacrifices along the way. His vision of building a life with his beautiful family took him first to Europe then to the U.S. which he now calls home away from home.

Roberto was born in Campinas, Sao Paulo which is home to three of the top universities in Brazil. After getting his degree, he acquired a job, got married and had a daughter. He then decided to move his young family- wife, Rosanna and daughter, Gabriella – from Sao Paulo to Italy. They settled in Milan, the fashion capital of the world. He held a position at the Consulate General of Brazil and at Banco do Brasil.

“The flame of adventure is always lit in this family…
our choice was to be close to Boston, in the wonderful state of Massachusetts.”

The family became Italian citizens and Roberto was beginning to feel settled-in to his new home. Roberto found the regions of Tuscany and Liguria to be his favorite places to bring his family, as they appreciated the scenic beauty of the amazing mountains, gorgeous blue waters and beaches. And then when Italy’s economy began to suffer and a recession loomed, Roberto knew it was time to once again move his family, this time to America. As he states, close friends who had settled in Massachusetts before Roberto and his family had so many wonderful things to say about New England. They were very impressed by the quality of life here, the region’s history and the great reputation that Massachusetts colleges and universities have nationally and globally.

Rosanna and Roberto’s daughter, Gabriella, is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in International Business and is fluent in Portuguese, English, Italian and Spanish. Roberto has been enrolled at Computer Systems Institute’s Worcester campus for over two years and is currently enrolled in the Business Career Program. He has also made many friends and enjoys learning about American culture. There are so many choices for someone looking to advance their education. “I am so fortunate to have found Computer Systems Institute, the quality of their programs, the support the instructors and staff, I am so impressed. I am planning to find a business opportunity that I can leverage my background and continue to gain real world experience.”

“New England has been a great place to experience this time in our lives,” states Roberto. New England is home to many great poets, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson who reportedly coined the phrase, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” For a family who began their journey back in Brazil, they would agree with Mr. Emerson.

Many students feel torn between pursuing their dreams in America and leaving their beloved families behind in their home countries. Of course, nothing will replace the bond students have with their families overseas. Nonetheless, Tian-Ying Meng, fondly known as Apple, and Olesya Timofeeva, two CSI students, have built a friendship that they treasure and take great pride in as if they have found a long-lost sister. When words of their new friendship traveled back to their homelands, their families tearfully rejoiced.

Tianying and Olesya met at CSI in the BCP program they both attended. Ever since they have been in the same class for both BCP and SKB programs. They helped each other, encouraged each other, cared for each other while ill, and were there for each other during difficult times. Their friendship has blossomed as they have achieved academic success and have remained top students in all classes they have attended as well as thrive in their Externships.

Before enrolling at CSI, Apple and Olesya grew up on different continents – Asia and Europe. Apple was from China, majored in literature at college and worked as a journalist and editor-in-chief at a TV station. Olesya was from Russia and had 10 years’ working experience as manager of the foreign economics department, SDT-Impex representation of Martimex a.s. in Moscow.

Despite busy work schedules, they are among the first to come and the last to leave their classrooms, ensuring they will not leave today’s work for tomorrow. They always submit projects ahead of time and always produce quality work with sound perceptions and insightful points, readily applying what they learned to their externships.

While they are from different countries, they share many commonalities and affinities – in their own words: “We have big dreams, the audacity to challenges difficulties, and the determination to give our best for whatever we choose to pursue.” They are grateful that CSI has provided a platform for them to meet, growing together academically and personally, becoming friends and sisters across continents.

Their life in the US is more balanced and enjoyable because they are close friends. While striving to be the best overall students at CSI, they use their leisure time to share experiences and expand on their dreams while they dine in restaurants and sip coffee in coffee shops. CSI makes possible everything from academia to work to life for international students and bridges all three unique dynamics into one exceptional, unique experience.

In the future, the two international sisters may be separated by distance, attend different schools, work on different jobs, or even return to their native countries. Still, when asked how long they will remain friends, they responded that the friendship will last forever because a sister is part of the family.

“We have been friends for years since we joined CSI. The solid relationship at CSI is one of the best things we gained in the United States. We speak different languages and come from different cultures, but we share a lot in terms of family values, life attitudes, and pursuit of excellence, which enable us to understand, connect and communicate well like sisters. We know our friendship will last forever – we just know it.”

Thaimelly Tavares Rigobello came to Computer Systems Institute’s Charlestown Campus last year and attended the Small Business Administrator program. Since then, she has been dreaming of building her own language school. Thaimelly came to CSI from Brazil, but this is not her first time in the United States. Fifteen years ago when she was still in high school, Thaimelly visited the California as an exchange student. She loved her experience there, meeting new people and learning about new cultures. After returning to Brazil, she continued visiting the United States, traveling as a tourist to different places.
Many things changed in her life during this time including graduating from college and receiving bachelor degrees in both psychology and teaching. She also married and had a daughter.

At the same time, she kept traveling with her family as well as her husband and daughter to different states in the U.S. “I wanted to show them places that I visited as a teenager in California and Florida.” Last year when visiting her friends who live in the Greater Boston area, she learned about CSI. “First my sister found out about your school and told me about it. We started the application process at the same time.”
She became a CSI student in September 2018. Having friends in the Greater Boston area definitely was a factor which influenced Thaimelly’s decision to study here, but the major reason behind that decision was her big dream.

“Teaching languages is my passion. I love teaching! I love working with kids! I love languages (I speak Spanish and French in addition to Portuguese and English). I already have a degree in psychology and teaching. I worked as an English teacher in Brazil, and I have friends who own their own businesses in the education field. I know that if you want to open and run a language school, or even if you want to work for a language school owned by someone else, you need to be somewhat of an administrator; you need to know how a business operates. That is why I chose to study at CSI and enroll in the Small Business Administrator program,” she explains.

She is planning to continue studies and enroll in the Business Career Program to expand her knowledge of business operations. Thaimelly is excited about her classes. During her first quarter, she learned all about managing money in a small business operation. For the next class, she learned about about marketing. Last quarter she learned about bookkeeping and accounting.
“This is something which everybody working for a small business, should know,” she explained.

This quarter, she is taking an Introduction to Small Business Administration class. “All my projects are around opening my own language school — she laughs — this is my dream, and I am learning everything I need to make it reality.” Currently as a part of this course, she is working on the business plan to start her own school, and that requires her to analyze every aspect of it including: which classes to offer, which materials to use, and how to operate a business. She wants to start it really small with two or three additional instructors. “We can start running it as a business from home by teaching languages to small groups of kids and then expand — maybe opening a franchise,” she adds.

Thaimelly looks like she is all about business: “To run a profitable, successful business you need not only to know what you will be selling or serving, but also how to do it, how to maintain daily operations. I already have degree in languages; now I need to learn the business side of it,” she says.

How does she feel about studying at CSI and about living in the Greater Boston area? “I enjoy studying here and I am lucky to have my family and a lot of new friends who are very supportive of my journey. She was worried that her husband would be hesitant to follow her here, but he surprised her by giving her his full support and moving with her to the U.S. so that she could pursue her studies. “He knows how much I am passionate about teaching, and he is there for me,” she says. Living in the United States while she is studying has been a great experience for her daughter too. “She also goes to school here, where she already made friends with kids from different cultures and she loves it,” Thaimelly says.

Marta Cebula impresses everyone as a young lady full of energy and positivity. Her face glows with a bright smile, may it be a warm, sunny day in May or a snowy, gloomy day in January in Chicago. No matter the weather, she shines.

She walks into the classroom, always wearing a smile. She is not picky about where to sit in the classroom and sits at the first available spot. With complete engagement, she attends every class, always participating, sharing thoughts, asking questions, submitting assignments timely, and getting top grades. Regardless where she sits, she shines.

Marta was a physical education major in her home country of Poland. Despite the fact all her families are in Poland, Marta was delighted to be able to continue her career in the United States. The courses in Customer Service program at CSI opened her up for opportunities to apply her expertise to helping others thorough physical education. She shined with hope.

Opportunity came when Marta became part of Fusion Recplex Burbank Parke District family for her externship. “I discovered that place – thanks to my friend. I always liked to participate in different recreational activities, and I embraced the opportunity dearly and seriously,” Marta shared.





When she first went to Fusion, she was stricken by how helpful and friendly everyone was. That delighted her as a student studying customer service. She took her job seriously, enjoyed her experience at the recreation facility and continued growing professionally, while bringing her enthusiasm and thoughtfulness to both her colleagues and customers.

Not long after Marta started the externship, the facility manager approached and asked her if she was interested in becoming an employee of Fusion Recplex. Marta was thrilled: “That was one of the happiest days in my life!” She shined with joy.

As Marta reflected and shared her stories of helping customers through her passion and expertise, she recalled the time when she signed up for the customer service program at CSI and commented: “I am very grateful for CSI as its course work and externship options provided the valuable tools and prepared me to grow – CSI made my dream come true.”

Her instructor and fellow students enjoy her as an outstanding student, her supervisor appreciates her as an exemplary employee, and her customers love her as a customer service professional with care, love, passion and expertise. She touches everyone with warmth and enthusiasm and her glowing smile.

Marta shines and she lets others shine with her!