# @rhodeislandcollege on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJh-MblnrN
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/74941321-rhodeislandcollege-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/1dc302dc3b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-07-27T14:29:40.000+00:00

## Caption

Ruth Feliz-Lima '20, came to the United States from her native Dominican Republic, where she had already started on her lifelong dream of attending medical school. Looking back, she says, "When I came to RIC it was a totally difficult transition. I didn't even know where I was standing. "
•
Although Ruth could manage with the English she learned in her home country, she didn't feel capable or confident enough to speak it here, much less to take college courses in English. So, she decided to join ric.projectexcel, a support program at RIC for multilingual students that offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses in academic reading and writing. With that support she went on to graduate this year with a degree in a biology and minors in neuroscience and chemistry.
•
Despite her early battles with language and other obstacles, including the underrepresentation of Latinos in her field, Feliz-Lima is eager to step forward and accomplish her childhood dream of attending medical school. "With persistence, everything is possible. Everything requires hard work, but with effort and determination, you can achieve it," she affirms. "Just because I might need to work harder than my neighbor, doesn't mean I cannot do it."
.
.
.
#RICNews #experienceRIC #RICSpirit #RICAlumni #RICGrad2020 #rhodeislandcollege #ELL #ESL #futuremedicalstudent #dominican #latina #latinx #womeninstem #latinasinstem #biologist

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 282
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 6

## Tags

ricnews, futuremedicalstudent, rhodeislandcollege, esl, ricspirit, experienceric, ricgrad2020, dominican, ricalumni, ell, biologist, latina, latinx, womeninstem, latinasinstem

---
Copyright (c) Gondola