From Student to Teacher: My EF Journey
Education has always been the foundation of my life.
When I was just a 15-year-old girl, a high school student in a small village, Vachnadziani, in Georgia, I already knew how to dream big. I believed—deeply—that education was the key to changing my life.
My first dream was to study at the number one university in my country: Tbilisi State University. Getting in was incredibly difficult. You either had to be very rich and pay enormous bribes, or you had to be exceptionally smart and pass the entrance exams with top grades.
I think you can guess which one I was.
After completing my bachelor’s degree, I earned a master's degree in political science from the University of Florence. In just four years of living in Italy, I learned Italian fluently and completed my studies at the university level—something I am still deeply proud of.
While in Italy, I first heard about EF. I fell in love with the school instantly—perhaps because I was already in love with education itself. EF helped me come to the United States on a student visa and made one of my childhood dreams come true: living and studying in America.
When I arrived at EF Tarrytown, my English was very poor. But studying here transformed me. My speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills have improved dramatically. EF gave me confidence, knowledge, and direction.
Thanks to EF, I was able to earn my third degree—an Associate Degree in Journalism—from Westchester Community College.
I remember walking around Tarrytown, passing the EF campus, and saying to myself: One day, I will come back here. Maybe I will even work here. It felt perfect—I live just seven minutes away.
I started as a student.
Today, I am a teacher.
EF is truly a place where dreams come true.
I am now a lawful American citizen. I have a beautiful family and a job I have always dreamed of. After completing my TESOL certificate, the very first place I applied to was EF—because I wanted our love story to continue.
The school that gave me my first steps in the United States gave me something even greater: the opportunity to become a teacher.
I am deeply grateful to EF New York, and especially to my academic team—Justin Britton, Gleice Vakhraneva, and Vandreia Montano. They opened their hearts to me, believed in me, and help me every single day to grow, learn, and become better prepared for my students.
I share my story with my students, and they are inspired. They feel hope. They see what is possible. With EF, you can become anyone you want to be.
You may start as a student—but you can become a teacher, a professional, or a leader. There are no limits—only opportunities. EF is an open book for everyone: a place to learn new languages, gain lifelong skills, develop creativity, strengthen critical thinking, and even become an educator.
It is a true honor to serve this incredible community as an instructor.
There are no limits—only opportunities.
Learn! Grow! Build!
With EF, education changes lives. The EF has changed my life!