Micronesian student Betwin Tilfas traveled to Park University in 2011 to achieve his educational goals through his commitment to overcome obstacles.
He left his island nation to study computer science in the U.S. Tilfas attended Kosrae High School in Micronesia and he graduated in 2009. After his graduation, he attended College of Micronesia Kosrae from 2009 to 2010.
The college he attended did not offer the major he wanted to study, he says.
After a year at College of Micronesia Kosrae, he realized that it was impossible to achieve his educational dream on the island. He says leaving Micronesia opened a new opportunity.
“When I was back home, there was only one computer class because there were no computer majors there,” Tilfas says.
Tilfas is from the island of Kosrae in Micronesia.
“Kosrae is one of the four main islands that made up Federated States of Micronesia (FSM),” Tilfas says.
When he was in Kosrae, he traveled to different places inFederate States of Micronesia. However, he has not traveled outside of the island, he says.
“I never been to the mainland before,” Tilfas states.
According to Tilfas, it was a tough decision to move far away from his parents, siblings, relatives and friends.
Tilfas says his determination to study computer science landed him at Park University. Before he left his country, het talked to cousin Bertson Tilfas about his plan to study in the U.S.
He says it was a raining day at College of Micronesia Kosrae, when he sat down with his cousin to share his plan. After they met, they agreed topursue their academic goals inthe U.S. Within a few weeks, they made connection with Micronesian students at Park, he says.
“When I was in Kosrae, my friends at Park told me that I should consider Park University,” Tilfas says.
He arrived in the winter of 2011. In the same week, he encountered cold weather and snow, he says. When he was in Micronesia, he says it was always raining or sunny. He says he prefers tropical weather on the island because it does not snow.
However, he says he has learned to like it. As a result, he is looking forward to seeing more snow this year and building a snowman.
“For international students like me, winter may not be a good thing for them but I like it,” he says.
Although it is cold in the winter, he still wears short pants and flip, he says. Amazingly, his Micronesianfriends also do the same thing.
He believes traveling to different places enables him to learn different things and different cultures. Even though it was the first time for him to come to U.S in 2011, Tilfas has been traveling between Kosrae and Hawaii islands for years.
After nearly two decades on the island, he decided to come to mainland, Tilfas explains. It took nine hours from Kosrae to Honolulu. Meanwhile traveling between Hawaii and Kansas City, Mo., lasted for another 14 hours.
Although he likes his computer science emphasis, he says it is more challenging for him.
“Computer science is hard because I have to learn different language like Java++ and C++,” Tilfas says.
Tilfas’s cousin Bertson is also studying at Park with an emphasis in communication. Bertson said his cousin is a hardworking and smart.
