How a tutor made an impact on one woman’s path to citizenship
Cheryl Dalton’s winding professional journey echoes the adventures of her childhood hero, Cherry Ames, a fictional character from a popular children’s book series in the 1940s.
As Cheryl puts it, “I kind of think I am Cherry Ames. You know, Cheryl Dalton, public health nurse, Cheryl Dalton, Navy nurse, Cheryl Dalton, nurse practitioner, Cheryl Dalton, nurse educator….. You think, ‘I'm her!’”
Today, she’s Cheryl Dalton, dedicated ESL tutor and Citizen Guide.
Her welcoming spirit was shaped by growing up in a multicultural community in Hawaii where her father served as a submarine officer.
“When you move all the time, you’re always entering different spaces and cultures,” she said.
Throughout her nursing career, Cheryl interacted with many people from different cultures. As a public health nurse in San Diego, she treasured her time working near a refugee center.
“It was like going to different countries every day. We’d see our Cambodian immigrants, then Laotian immigrants, and others,” she said. “I really love working with different cultures and eating different foods. [We see] that we’re all the same.”
Cheryl’s medical missionary trips to India, Sri Lanka, Honduras, and Mexico had a lasting impact on her. She found the cultural differences in India especially challenging and recognized the difficulty of learning a new language.
“I have empathy and compassion for people who are coming to America and trying to just make a way… I think it's scary, and I think they need people to walk alongside them,” she shared.
“I love words, and there is a Japanese term, ikigai. Ikigai means, what do you get up for each day? What is your meaning and purpose in life?”
After retiring from nursing, Cheryl said she lost her purpose. In her 60s, she returned to school to earn her ESL certification and work with immigrants, a path that felt both right and familiar.
“As a nurse, I did a lot of immigration work, and my specialty was rural healthcare with the poor,” Cheryl said.
Many of her patients were uninsured or underinsured immigrants with diverse languages, cultures, and health practices. Cheryl credits her medical missionary work, public health experience, and love of nursing for inspiring her passion to teach English and help lawful permanent residents (LPR) prepare for the citizenship exam.
Through her volunteer work, Cheryl connected with Raven Samantha, a young Costa Rican woman living in Georgia who was navigating the U.S. citizenship exam process. Raven, a lawful permanent resident, was drawn to the United States because of her interest in the English language.
“I really had a passion for English since I was a child,” she said.
Raven grew up in San Isidro de El General, three hours from Costa Rica’s capital, where she began studying English. Due to limited job opportunities, she relocated to a popular tourist area. There, she learned to balance her studies while working as a cashier. Her dedication led to a promotion, but she had to move further away from her hometown and family.
In 2019, Raven wanted to fully immerse herself in conversations with native English speakers, so she decided to study abroad. With her family’s support, she applied for an F1 visa (a non-immigrant student visa), sold her car, and with her older brother’s help, proved she was financially ready.
“I never remember them telling me, ‘Are you crazy? Why are you going to do that?’” Raven recalled. Instead, her family was happy she chose to pursue her dream, one she calls, “definitely a dream that came true.”
After completing her English as a Second Language studies, Raven earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Reformed University in Georgia, a degree that led to her current work as a project manager.
Reflecting on her immigration journey, Raven shares how falling in love with her husband, a first-generation American with family roots in Venezuela, changed the direction of her life. Meeting him inspired her to remain in the U.S. after her studies.
“Honestly, that was not my plan,” she said. “I love my home country and I'm really proud of being Costa Rican. But love changes everything.”
Raven is now expecting her first child and studying for her citizenship. As she prepared to study, Raven tried flash cards from Amazon and discovered local tutors were too far away. Finally, she connected with Cheryl remotely in early 2026.
Just like some of Raven’s local neighbors, Cheryl has been very supportive. Meeting Cheryl has impacted Raven in a positive way.
“What I like about [Cheryl]... her heart is humble. She really cares about you and where you are going.”
She describes Cheryl as patient and thorough, but it is Cheryl’s kindness that stands out most. With Cheryl’s guidance, Raven not only prepares for her citizenship exam but also discovers new facets of life in the United States.
“I’ve learned a lot. I even traveled to Washington, D.C., because I really wanted to see the Capitol to give me an idea, because I’m a visual learner.”
Although immigration policies continue to shift, Raven chooses to focus on what she can control.
“I try to focus on the positive… whatever I cannot control, I'll leave it up to life,” she said.
Raven is confident she took the right steps to fulfill her dream of becoming a U.S. citizen, and with Cheryl’s support, she is optimistic that completing the final milestone in the process is within reach.
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