English Got Her into a U.S. University

My sister didn’t finish college the traditional way. In the middle of her studies, she chose a different path—one of service and faith. She became a missionary, volunteering to travel wherever she was assigned to share the gospel of our church. For 18 months, she focused on serving others and putting her education on hold.

When she returned, she had no job and couldn’t go back to school right away since it was already mid-semester. Like many of us in the Philippines, English is her second language. But because she was determined and disciplined, she started working as an English tutor while figuring out her next steps.

Then came a rare opportunity, she got a scholarship to study in a university in the United States. But the challenge wasn’t just good grades. She also needed to pass an English Language Assessment, like IELTS or TOEFL. This meant facing tests in speaking, listening, writing, and reading—all in English.

Living in a third-world country, chances like this don’t come often. She knew she had to take it seriously. So she spent the next year and a half preparing—studying English every day and teaching it to others at the same time. It was a long process of learning grammar, building vocabulary, practicing fluency, and becoming confident in using English in both conversation and academics.

Eventually, she passed the exam. And now, because of English, she’s in her second year studying Bachelor of Science in Psychology in the U.S.—and she’s on the Dean’s List.

Her story is a reminder that learning English doesn’t just help you speak better—it opens doors to education, travel, work, and experiences beyond what you ever imagined.

If you’re thinking about your future, learning English might be your first step toward something life-changing.