Tapped as a tutor

Melissa Dindial came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago almost two years ago specifically for her education, and is now not only excelling in her studies but is also an active member of the school’s community.
Dindial is in her fourth and last semester at Queensborough Community College. She said she chose to go there because, along with it being affordable, a cousin who went there said it was a good school for an international student.
Now living in South Ozone Park with her aunt and uncle, Dindial is majoring in business administration. In January, she will transfer to Baruch College to major in accounting.
For the last year, Dindial has been working at the school’s learning center as a business and social science tutor. When her boss saw her talking to so many other students they said she would be a perfect tutor. A professor also recommended her for the position.
“I like helping fellow students,” said Dindial, who has a 3.89 GPA.
Dindial is a senator for the International Students’ Club, where she said she helps new international students who are “as lost as I was.” She said that it has been very exciting to meet people from so many different countries and learn about their cultures and traditions.
Also, Dindial is a member of the Ceremonial Occasions Committee and is an East Indian dancer, performing at different campus events.
Recently, Dindial was selected by the school’s president and the mayor’s office to be a reader during the 9/11 memorial ceremony at ground zero. To be chosen, she said she needed to be an active student, have good grades, go through a screening process and have recommendations. With one of the victims’ family members, she read 13 names of individuals who perished during the terrorist attack.
“It was so emotional,” Dindial said. “It was like nothing you would have seen on television. It just confirmed to me that the lives were lost but never forgotten.”
Aside from the memorial ceremony, another one of Dindial’s most memorable moments since coming to the United States was Queensborough’s international awards ceremony last March where she received four awards. They were for leadership, being on the dean’s list that current semester, being on it for three consecutive semesters, and for being an active member of the student government. She said that it was very rewarding to be recognized for her hard work and efforts.
Dindial said that her biggest challenge has been being away from all that she is used to and being separated from her friends and family.
“I know hard work pays off,” Dindial said, adding that all she is doing now is enriching her life.
Once she has her degree in accounting, Dindial said if the opportunity arises she will stay in the United States. If she can’t, then she said she will go back to Trinidad and Tobago and share her expertise there.
In the future, Dindial also said that she wants to get involved with some sort of fundraiser to assist people who are less fortunate.
“I want to thank Queensborough, the campus learning center and the international students’ center for making my stay in New York and my school experience thus far a remarkable one,” Dindial said. “I couldn’t have done it without any one of them. They have been the best. The warmth, the comfort and the support is unbelievable.