For many teachers, the most rewarding part is seeing students grow. For Fabyola Lima Queres, that sense of progress has shaped not only her career but also her vision for the future.
Fabyola Lima Queres spent more than a decade working as a teacher in her home country of Brazil. Today, she is enrolled in the Business Fundamentals program at CSI while living in the Boston area. Through her studies in business, Fabyola is building skills that she hopes will allow her to continue working in education. But this time she hopes to help international students successfully navigate the challenges of studying in another country.
A Career Rooted in Education
Before moving to the United States, Fabyola earned a degree in Language and Literature. She then spent approximately 11 years teaching students in Brazil. What Fabyola valued most about teaching was the opportunity to build meaningful connections with her students, “I really enjoyed connecting with students and seeing their progress,” she explains. “Watching them grow and develop their skills was always very rewarding.”
For Fabyola, education was never just about delivering lessons. It was about guiding students through learning experiences and helping them build confidence in their abilities. Even after leaving the classroom, that passion for helping students succeed has continued to influence the direction of her career.
Fabyola’s journey in international education did not begin in the United States. Before coming here, she participated in an exchange student program in London, an experience that introduced her to the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad.
Studying in Europe helped broaden her perspective. Several years later, she moved to the United States. She has been here for about seven years with her husband. The rest of her extended family still lives in Brazil.
Returning to the Classroom as a Student
As mentioned, Fabyola is studying Business Fundamentals through a hybrid program at CSI. The program allows her flexible online learning, even on an F-1 visa, with in-person immersions. “My schedule is a mix of online classes and coursework during the week,” she says. ”I spend time reading, preparing assignments, and working on projects.”
The hybrid structure of the program also helps Fabyola stay organized and manage her time effectively. By creating routines and planning ahead, she balances her academic responsibilities while maintaining time for her personal life, “The best part about being a student at CSI has been the opportunity to continue learning and growing while living in another country,” she says. “It has also been very interesting to study with people from different cultures and backgrounds.”
While the experience has been rewarding, studying in another country is not without its challenges, ”One of the biggest challenges has been studying in a second language and being far away from my family in Brazil,” says Fabyola. “It requires resilience and dedication but it has also helped me grow a lot.”
During her time at CSI, Fabyola also gained practical experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT), an opportunity that allowed her to apply her skills in a professional environment. Through CSI, she worked at the front desk of the historic Wayside Inn, where she regularly met guests from around the world, “It was a great experience because I interacted with people from many different places,” she adds.
Although she is currently focused on her studies and not working, the experience at the hotel provided valuable insight into customer service, communication, and cultural exchange. Looking ahead, she hopes to combine her teaching background with the global perspective she has gained while working and studying abroad.
Because Fabyola understands some of the difficulties that international students face, she hopes to one day help guide others through the same process. “Because I have studied abroad myself, I understand the challenges international students face, especially adapting to a new culture, language, and academic system while being far from their families,” she explains.
Her goal is to work in a role connected to education or international student services, where she can provide guidance and encouragement to students beginning their own journeys in new countries, “In the future, I would love to support and guide international students so they feel more confident and successful during their studies abroad.”
Advice for Future International Students
For international students considering enrolling in a program at CSI, Fabyola offers advice. “I would say to be prepared to stay focused and committed,” she says. “Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity, but it requires discipline and dedication.”
For Fabyola, the journey has been about much more than earning new credentials. “Being an international student has been a meaningful experience for me,” she reflects. “It has helped me grow personally, see the world in a different way, and build new dreams for the future.”
If you love what you do but want to add a business education to your resume, CSI is for you! We’d love the opportunity to talk to you about your goals. Fill out the form on the website or give us a call today.