Thao Le was a graphic designer in his home country of Vietnam for 10 years before coming recently to the United States.

“I design everything about advertising – posters, brochures, catalogs, labels and logos for many many companies,” said Le.

Now, as a student at Renton Technical College, he must learn English to gain entry to the industry here in the United States in order to pursue his dreams continuing in his profession in this country.

Le’s dreams are one of the many captured in an exhibit at the Renton History Museum, featuring the voices of some of the newest members of the Renton community in a new exhibit called “Dreams Open Doors.”

The exhibit is on display now through Aug. 24 at the museum.

It features the journey, hopes and aspirations of English as a Second Language (ESL) students from the technical college’s Basic Studies Department.

The school constructed a “Dream Door” and positioned it all over campus, taking pictures of students with it and asking them what their dreams are for the future.

Renton Technical College has about 500 ESL students. Approximately 35 students are featured in photographs at the museum and 200 students are in YouTube slideshows for the project.

The project encompassed more than just the dreams of ESL students, but the museum exhibit focuses just on that insight, said Liz Falconer, RTC Curriculum and Technology coordinator.

“We’ve been focusing on transitioning students forward and so we’ve been trying to get ESL students to know about programs and what they can do with their lives after their English gets better,” said Falconer.

“Dreams Open Doors” was a way to provoke communication across campus between ESL students, she said.

“We have a lot of academic language for transitioning and pathways and things,” Falconer said. “But, to put that in a way that people could understand, that students could understand, we made this Dream Door.”

Student Beatriz Moreno of Mexico dreams of becoming a social worker because she likes to help people.

She wanted to participate in the “Dreams Open Doors” project because she feels good about being a student at RTC.

When she takes the bus to school people often ask her where she is studying, to which she tells them.

People then reply,” Oh, this school is good because you have only one year in the United States and you can talk very well,” Moreno said with a smile.

Learning a new language is hard work, these students attest.

The purpose of the exhibit was also to make students feel a part of the Renton community by showcasing their aspirations at the museum.

“So the whole cross connection with you’re part of our community, we’re welcoming you here, is a really important message, I think that they’re getting through the exhibit,” said Falconer.

Student Hai Nguyen currently works as a machinist at a local car dealership, but has dreams of becoming a priest.

He is a level-three student and has studied English before, but forgotten some of it.

When asked if his studies are hard, Nguyen replied, “Yeah, it’s hard, but I love it because it improves my skill.”

The Renton History Museum is located at 235 Mill Ave. S. and can be reached at 425-255-2330. The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; it’s closed Sunday and Monday.