Incoming student Tania Nainani is the first person in her family to enroll in a graduate program. “My parents have been so proud to watch me get an education that they could not attain at my age,” she says. “My grandparents migrated from India to Hong Kong, the place that I now call home. They overcame so many obstacles to ensure that I received a quality education. My family inspires me to pursue my goals and dreams, and they continue to support me endlessly.”

In September, Tania will begin her studies in the Applied Behavioral Analysis program. She is grateful for the support that TC has afforded international students. “These initiatives have helped me tremendously while moving to a new city and country, which can be very overwhelming,” she says.

“TC has made the entire new student experience super easy!” she adds. “Members of my cohort have already formulated group chats, and we communicate with each other frequently.”

She also took advantage of TC-hosted workshops to obtain her teaching certification before the fall semester starts. “The workshops have been collaborative and have allowed me to learn from people with similar interests.” 

So far, she’s particularly enjoyed getting her DASA certification, an educational course on cyberbullying and discrimination. “It was truly an informative process. It gave me statistics and insight behind the bullying landscape today,” she says. She hopes to apply the DASA certification to her future fieldwork as she works towards becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

As she prepares to start her journey in New York City, she’s eager to call this new city her new home. “After visiting this past fall, I knew this was the city I wanted to call home, and I promised myself I’d work hard to make that a reality,” she says.

“I am excited to begin my new chapter at Teachers College. Pursuing my graduate career in such a dynamic city will allow me to grow both educationally and personally,” Tania concludes.