ELI Highlights

ELI Student Spotlight

Carlos Sanchez Baldoquin considers the ELI a positive environment with supportive professors

Carlos Sanchez Baldoquin began studying at the ELI during the Winter 2008 semester. His commitment to learning English immediately became evident to all his professors. From the very beginning, Carlos’ dedication to his English studies began in the ELI lab, where he has spent countless hours per week practicing his grammar and listening skills. What is most admirable about Carlos as a student of English is his insistency in speaking English only, even with Spanish-speaking friends. As a result, his English has improved dramatically and he is one step closer to accomplishing the goals he has set out for himself.

Carlos Sanchez was born in Havana, Cuba, on January 19th, 1978. He arrived in the United States on August 26th, 2006. Carlos explains that the first year in the United States was the most difficult: “I had to face too many adversities without knowing much English. I had to adapt to a new culture very different from my own, meet new people, and so forth”. Although difficult, he was able to adapt to this new environment and overcome several obstacles in a short period of time.

Carlos graduated from Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2002 from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food at Havana University. He was awarded “Best Student” in the Pharmaceutical career and also named “Best Student” in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food that same year. In addition, he received a scholarship in 2006 financed by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) at the University of Pamplona in Navarra, Spain, by the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology; however, he was unable to attend. Carlos also received a formal invitation from Dr. Edward Okello, to carry out his PhD in the University of Newcastle in England, which he was also unable to attend but felt highly honored by the invitation.

Despite his many accomplishments, Carlos understands that he has to jump many hoops before he can be a practicing pharmacist in the United States. Carlos took the first steps in the right direction and got licensed as a pharmacy technician two months after arriving from Cuba. One year later, he passed the Foreign Pharmacy Examination.

Impressively, Carlos has been working as a pharmacy intern full-time at Walgreen’s while never failing to attend class at the ELI.

Carlos considers the ELI a positive environment with supportive professors: “If I had to summarize my experiences at the ELI in one word, I would refer to the advertisement of MasterCard: ‘Priceless’. I have found a second home at the ELI. I arrive every morning very tired, but happy to meet incredible people in the classrooms”.

While Carlos dedication is the main reason for his English skills thus far, he extends his gratitude to his professors: “I would like to thank my grammar and vocabulary professors. I know that my writing is improving everyday. Thank you, Bill, for everything… and many thanks to Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. Foster, and Margaret.” Referring to Mr. Sanchez as ELI’s “father”, he thanks him for being the “anonymous hero of our victories inside the classroom.”

Carlos Sanchez’s journey in the United States began with hardship, but he has slowly been able to learn from his experiences, both good and bad, and come closer to achieving his goals as a practicing pharmacist once again.

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