International Academy students at T.C. Williams High School have shared their heartwarming stories in a new book entitled ‘Journey of the Titan.’
The book tells the stories of 97 amazing young men and women who came to the United States from all over the world with the hope of a better life. The stories are touching, heart-warming and sometimes graphic. All paint an honest picture of what it is like to be an International student at T.C. Williams. The book celebrates the first class of students to graduate from the International Academy since its inception four years ago. This year 107 students graduated from the International Academy at T.C.
The book, ‘Journey of the Titan: T.C.’s International Academy Students Share Their Stories’ has created waves among ACPS staff, some of whom have taken to reading extracts aloud to inspire others. If you have not yet seen a copy, stop by ACPS Central Office or T.C. Williams front office to get one. We guarantee you will be equally moved.
The International Academy, established in 2012 brings together English learners and provides them with a school-within-a-school model of services at T.C Williams, designed to make it easier for students coming from other countries to settle in and be successful in their schoolwork.
The stories shared in the book were written by the students in the International Academy in their own words. The photographs are the work of Titans in the Advanced Photography class at T.C. Williams. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to support the post-secondary educational needs of the students involved in the project.
Derlin Castillo
Here is a glimpse into the lives of just a few of the students profiled in the book:
Derlin Castillo, whose father was murdered when he was 4 years old, survived a blood clot in his brain when he was 16 years old. He came to the United States with his mom, two sisters and little brother in 2012 and enrolled in the International Academy.
“I was put in ninth grade because I did not know English. I was 18 years old. I moved into my own apartment a year later. I have worked 40 hours a week at Los Tios for the last 3 years and I maintain a 3.4 GPA. I hope to join the Navy and serve my new country. I only have to wait one more year until I can become a citizen.”
Krissia Gomez
Krissia Gomez and her younger brother joined the rest of her family in the U.S. from El Salvador when she was 12 and he was 11. They had been separated from their family for more than six years.
“I came with many, many dreams, leaving everything behind and just looking forward. I have been here for almost 5 years with my family. I am a senior in the International Academy and my dream is to work hard and go to college for business administration, to have a better education and to get a job to help my family. I will work hard every day to achieve my goals and to pay my parents back a little bit for what they did.”
Melany Soto
Melany Soto moved to the U.S. from Ecuador with her brother in 2012, rejoining her mother who had left Ecuador when she was five.
“When I came to the International Academy at T.C. Williams, it was difficult because it was in English. I did not understand anything. I made it through with the help of my new friends and teachers.”
Melany plans to attend Northern Virginia Community College for two years and then transfer to George Mason University.
The International Academy exemplifies ACPS 2020 Goal #1 – Academic Excellence and Educational Equity.