Finding your voice: How adult education transforms lives
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Published August 24, 2026
For many adults, the path to a new career or a better life starts with a single, often intimidating step: walking through the doors of a college. At College of Lake County (CLC), the Adult Education & English Language Acquisition (ELA) program is a welcoming place for these new or returning student and the resources offered are free. At CLC, adult learners gain new skills that lead them to building families, restoring confidence and opening doors that may have seemed closed.
“Our job is not simply to get students into college,” said Dr. Tasha Shell, dean of adult education at CLC. “It’s to position them to be successful.”
Overcoming Language Barriers
When Elham “Ellie” Edalatian arrived in the United States in December 2021, she had a bachelor’s degree but did not speak English. Her first day at CLC was daunting, as she sat among students who seemed to speak perfect English. She might have left feeling confused and uncomfortable, questioning whether she was in the right place. However, the support of the faculty changed everything. “They expressed that they are ‘here to help you,’” Ellie recalled. “That meant a lot.”
“If I don’t have family here, they can be my family,” she said.
Edalatian immersed herself in ESL and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) college classes. She enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Bridge Program and earned her paraprofessional substitute teacher credential. Today, she is a proud employee at CLC’s Children’s Learning Center, where she shares her passion for educating young children.
The Power of Resilience
Luisa Campo Londono’s journey similarly highlights the life-changing impact of CLC’s support systems. Starting with ESL classes on Saturdays, Campo Londono worked through the Bridge Program and the Integrated Career & Academic Preparation System (ICAPS). Her resilience was tested during stressful exams, but she found strength in her instructors. “Teachers feel like your friends,” she said, noting how they coached her when she felt shy or uncertain.
In April 2024, Campo Londono achieved a major milestone by earning her high school diploma. Her proudest moment was seeing her own narrative published in Prairie Voices, CLC’s award-winning literary magazine that features students’ writing. “It reminded me how far I’ve come,” she said.
“Studying opens doors. It opens opportunities. Step by step, stay motivated, with a positive attitude and gratitude,” she explained.
A Legacy of Learning
For these students, education is a tool for generational change. Campo Londono, a mother of two teenage sons, wants to be an example of resilience for her children. She credits her own mother’s advice—that education is the best way to obtain a better life—as being “tattooed on her brain.” Having earned a CLC Foundation scholarship, she is pursuing her dream to become a physical therapist assistant or a nurse.
The Adult Education & ELA program at CLC provides a unique environment that focuses on professional growth and community. For Edalatian, the college community became her support system in a new country. “I owe CLC my life,” she said. Through persistence and the help of a dedicated team, adult learners at CLC are finding their voices and building brighter futures for themselves and their families.
This story is from the summer 2026 edition of the CLC Connects Magazine. Published twice a year, CLC Connects shares the stories, people and impact behind College of Lake County. The magazine helps connect with our community by highlighting student success, innovative programs, partnerships and the many ways CLC is transforming lives across Lake County.