Thursday, August 25th 2011,
When Kimsy Tor saw the dozens of colorful flags mounted in a semicircle in an auditorium at Manhattan College, each representing an international student, she noticed the blue-and-red flag of Cambodia was missing.
"I think there's no room for it," said Tor.
"They'll make room," Prof. Helene Tyler told her.
After a long wait, Tor - an 18-year-old Cambodian - has finally arrived in the Bronx to study at Manhattan College on a full scholarship.
In January, Tyler met Tor while teaching an advanced math course at a university in Phnom Penh. She quickly realized the bespectacled teen, who speaks heavily accented English, was bright beyond her years.
She pushed for Tor to leave everything she knows behind and apply to the school.
"I haven't met many people who seem to learn so quickly," said Tyler, surrounded by Tor, Tor's parents, family members and friends during a private tour of the Riverdale campus.
"It's just amazing that she kept up in a class of students that had four years more of education."
The Daily News reported in February that Tor's family and friends have high hopes for her: there are only four resident citizens of Cambodia who hold doctorate degrees in mathematics.
Tor walked the lush green campus in awe, hanging on the tour guide's every word as he told her about meal plans and dorm rooms. Her parents, tailors who speak no English, trailed behind her and smiled when they saw Tor, one of six children, smile. Father and daughter donned the forest green Manhattan College T-shirts Tyler had bought for their visit.
"My dream came true because of her," said Tor, glancing at Tyler.
Added her father, through a translator, "I'm very excited and happy. I never dreamed about this because it's something we never thought of."
During their first visit to New York, the family ate pizza, drove to Niagara Falls and, of course, visited the Statue of Liberty. Tor said she still wants to visit Times Square and Central Park.
The petite teen said she'll be sad when her parents leave, but Tyler and her husband, Ron Zwerdling, will try to minimize that wrenching feeling of homesickness.
"We're trying to think of what to do for her 19th birthday," coming up next week, Tyler said in a hushed voice.
But after the campus tour, Tor said she is excited to explore her new home.
"I see many different things, and I think I am going to learn a lot," she said.
3 comments:
Goes Girl! goes!...get the Ph.D from Bronx and come back to rescue me!
I failed my maths study since the 1st grade. I turned in 10 math home works and got all zeros.
At the end of the month my mean teacher added up those 0s and scolded me that I amounted just to a 0, while I insisted that my addition proved me right I got ten zeros!
Now I realize that I need professor from Multiversities not just University to help me understand string theory but with future Dr.Kimsy Tor I keep my hope up and waiting.
6:44 AM,
So sorry to read about your bad performance in mathematics! It sounds really bad!
Just give up on Math, my friend!
I don't think you are going to make it no matter what!
You have survived so far so you must be good in something!
Hehehe.
Hey dude 5:22 PM! With a good friend like you who need an enemy! Hehehe! You should encourage 6:44 AM to study mathematics with any good tutors including yourself ! He sounds sincere and very striving! I would help him understand String Theory,after all it is a beautiful and elegant theory so far.
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