International Student Pursues Career in Criminal Justice

Lake Land offers benefits that I don’t hear about other schools offering... they understand that this is different to me, and they try to make me feel at home.

As a student in Lake Land’s Criminal Justice Program, Noella Kasera is taking the first steps toward a larger goal.

Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Noella witnessed the effects of conflicts that have persisted in her country for nearly 30 years. In 2022, she journeyed to the United States with the plan of earning a law degree before returning home and defending the innocent.

“It hurts to see those things happening, and that became my motivation to do law school,” Noella said. “I want to help those people who need it and defend them.”

Even with her determination, Noella knew that she would face significant challenges as an international college student. Her knowledge of the English language was limited, and she expected to feel alone in an unfamiliar place.

These worries were quickly relieved when Noella arrived at Lake Land College in Fall 2022. While many schools offer programs for international students, Noella states that Lake Land’s unique support made it a clear choice to begin her studies.

“Lake Land offers benefits that I don’t hear about other schools offering from what my friends say,” Noella said. “It’s also one of the only colleges that welcomes international students who don’t speak English. Here, they have programs for us to learn English first and get comfortable with that before starting in our main programs.”

Now fully engrossed in the Criminal Justice program, Noella said that learning the ins and outs of law enforcement will provide a strong foundation for her future studies. On pace to graduate in Spring 2025, she plans to eventually transfer to a university and complete a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending law school.

Despite the challenges of attending a college so far away from home, Noella has thrived in her course work and has grown into a leader among her peers. In 2023, she was nominated for the Nontraditional Student of the Year award in recognition of her determination and accomplishments.

While Noella still has a long journey ahead of her, she is glad that it began with a community of love and support at Lake Land College.

“People here are friendly and kind,” Noella said. “They understand that this is different to me, and they try to make me feel at home.”

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES AREA OF STUDY

• Art

• Broadcast Announcing

• Broadcast Communications

• Communication Studies

• Criminal Justice

• Economics

• English

• History

• Liberal Studies

• Political Science

• Psychology

• Radio Broadcasting

• Social Science Education

• Sociology/Social Work

• TV Field-Studio Production

• Humanities & Social Science Exploratory Area of Study

LEARN MORE

For more information or to get started in a Humanities & Social Science Area of Study visit LakeLandCollege.edu.