‘Durham Tech has a special place in my heart’

Kathryn Oliva, a Honduras native and Durham Tech graduate, was 17 when she came to the United States. She started taking classes at Durham Tech within a year of her arrival.

“Durham Tech has a special place in my heart. From the beginning I had classmates from other countries. That was amazing to me,” Oliva said. “I got to know about other countries, even with never having visited them. I got to meet other non-English speaking students with good hearts that I never would have met if I hadn’t been at Durham Tech. Many of us still talk and go out. My Durham Tech time was such a good thing for me.”

Oliva chose Durham Tech at the beginning of her journey for its English as a second language program and went on to take English language courses and graduated with her Spanish Interpreter certificate. She took her certificate and entered the corporate world, but soon found her niche as a bilingual liaison and teacher’s aide with Durham Public Schools.

“I work in Early Language and I do more with my language in schools and get children comfortably involved in the U.S. educational system. I also see English-speaking students becoming interested in a foreign language and being comfortable with it,” said Oliva. “I learn new things daily and smile all the time. I belong in a people-centered career.”

Durham Tech gave Oliva her confidence in speaking English and in continuing her education to get stronger in her chosen profession and new ones.

“I take continuing education classes often and am getting my real estate license currently,” Oliva said. “While not through Durham Tech, it is my time at the college that let me take on these new things. I am much better off having been through hard times and successful times at Durham Tech.”

Oliva’s time at Durham Tech was filled with positives, but what stands out most for her are the strong teachers she had.

“Courses are tough, but the teachers care and make you feel comfortable asking questions, so you succeed. I remember one time walking into my teacher in tears. I was just stressed, but by the time I left the room I knew things would be just fine and I knew Durham Tech had my back,” Oliva said. “My teachers still answer my calls today. They are my job references. They were always there for me and still are today. It is genuine and real at Durham Tech.”

Oliva’s family is Durham Tech proud, too. She has two younger sisters — one with a Durham Tech history and one with a Durham Tech future.  

“One of my younger sisters took the early college courses while in high school and did well. She is getting her bachelor’s degree at North Carolina Central University now.  My youngest [sister] is in eighth grade, but already knows that she wants to take early college courses at Durham Tech. We are a Durham Tech family for sure.”