PEOPLE

Students: Stories of Triumph

Meet Leah Gardner


The Hatlen Center proved to be a great transition for me. I had moved to California a few months before entering the program, but I was uncomfortable with navigating the Bay Area. After a year of instruction, I am thankful and impressed with my new comfort level with public transportation systems and much-improved grasp of intersection analysis. I now use BART and public busses constantly to get where I need to go.

I’ve noticed an extreme difference in my willingness to navigate independently, and my fear of travel was really lessened during my stay. I am so thankful for this. I credit The Hatlen Center and its staff for their immeasurable assistance and support.

In addition, the technological recommendations, cooking tips, and financial advice were much appreciated. I also found a job while attending the program, and the suggestions and encouragement offered to me throughout my search for employment and after acquiring the job were extremely helpful. I am working full time and forming a new life in Berkeley. I want to thank The Hatlen Center’s staff for their support. It was a tremendously fruitful year for me.