From Rio de Janeiro to New Jersey to the Grounds of the University of Virginia, Kathiane Schinelli’s life has been a bilingual journey of reaching for new heights, adapting to challenges and chasing dreams.
One dream she’s embraced is attending UVA. A campus tour with her husband, Matthew, an alumnus, sparked her aspirations.
“I wanted to fulfill ‘my American dream’ by attending the University of Virginia,” she said. “What I found at UVA is a sense of respect and belongingness. Since I do not live in a dorm, or live in Charlottesville, I look forward to my visits and I find at UVA a sense of community for all ages.”
Schinelli sits in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens. Growing up visiting the imperial castles in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil sparked her interest in history and her appreciation of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. (Contributed photo)
Schinelli is studying through UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies and will soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. Her degree path has spanned more than 20 years; as a nontraditional student, she found the school’s support helped her regain confidence in her academic abilities.
“One of the reasons I knew UVA was the right place for me was SCPS’s excellence and its support system,” Schinelli said. “Among my advisers, I’ve had outstanding professors who challenged and supported me.”
Reaching her dream hasn’t been easy. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Schinelli struggled as a pre-teen to adjust to a new language and culture when her family, dreaming of better opportunities, moved to the U.S.
A native Portuguese speaker, she found middle school in Newark, New Jersey, a challenging experience. She was in a new environment struggling with a new language, trying to keep up with studies and peers.
“Most middle schoolers have a range of feelings, from fear to excitement, while transitioning to middle school,” Schinelli recalled. “My transition to middle school was a mix of fear, sadness and anxiety. I vividly remember feeling scared and not wanting to go to school.”
“Learning English was just one of the barriers I had to conquer. Understanding the culture, trying to fit in, dealing with a variety of emotions as a teen and being far away from loved ones were some of many obstacles I had to face, along with my family with immigration status, work and such,” she said.
Schinelli attended classes for students who spoke English as a second language. It took three years to function at an intermediate level. As tough as it was, she said she was fortunate the school was prepared for students learning English.
Schinelli loves to visit Grounds, and her children have even found a favorite sandwich shop on the Corner. (Contributed photo)
“The teachers were wonderful, and the community was diverse and filled with resources for Latinos, Portuguese and Brazilian families,” she said, remembering kind teachers, some of whom spoke Portuguese. “I didn’t have self-confidence, and I struggled in school being an English learner. There was a lot going on, but I never really 100% gave up. I still struggle with English grammar rules.”
After high school, Schinelli said college seemed out of reach. Instead, she started working to help support the family.
“I dreamed about going to college,” she said, “but did not fully understand how to navigate the responsibility of working full time while attending college.”
Working as a teaching assistant in a university children’s center, Schinelli began taking night classes. She also met her husband, Matthew, and together they managed two high-risk pregnancies, which put her education goals on hold.
Then came the visits with her family to Grounds. That’s when Schinelli knew she belonged at UVA.
“A wonderful memory for me was visiting UVA with my children. They love stopping by the sandwich shop and visiting the Grounds. My favorite spot is walking in the gardens during the springtime,” she said.
“Another fun memory was exploring Monticello with the family. My kids were into ‘Hamilton’ and learning about U.S. history, so it was a perfect time to visit,” Schinelli said. “I grew up visiting the imperial castles in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which sparked my interest in history. Living in Rio allowed me to discover the rich blend of Portuguese and Afro-Brazilian heritage, shaping my understanding of Brazilian history and my own heritage. Thus, visiting Thomas Jefferson’s house was an amazing experience.”
