Despite facing multiple learning disabilities, Andrew Tauber-Herring realized his dream to study marketing in Japan

Andrew Tauber-Herring grew up in a multi-generational home in Congers, New York, with his sister, parents, grandparents, great-grandmother and great-grandfather—a Holocaust survivor who came to America from Poland and taught himself English at the public library.

Now, Andrew has also crossed an ocean and immersed himself in a very different culture in pursuit of opportunity.

In January, he moved to Japan, where he’s studying business administration and marketing at a Tokyo-based extension of Lakeland University in Wisconsin.

“I absolutely love it, from the challenging courses that I have access to, plus the affordability of tuition. It’s been a very interesting experience,” says Andrew.

He says he developed an interest in Japan at 8 years old, when his second-grade class studied different cultures in school. “Ever since I first started reading about the culture and the country, Japan is where my heart always wanted to be. That interest just stayed with me.”

Proving himself right

His strong interest in all things Japanese was a bright spot for Andrew, whose educational experience was influenced by significant challenges from an early age. While it took him years to receive accurate diagnoses, he now knows, at age 30, that he struggles with several disabilities, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, “and several others I can’t spell,” he says.

While his family, especially his mother, always told him he could do whatever he put his mind to, others weren’t quite as supportive when he was going through school.

I was told back in high school that my learning disabilities would make it very difficult for me to go to college. It was hard for me to hear. From an early age, I knew I wanted to go to college. I had many career ideas, but my teachers made me feel nothing would ever come of it. Anytime I would express interest, they told me things like ‘you shouldn’t count on being accepted.’ I wanted to prove them all wrong.

And he has. Having taken preparatory coursework at Community College of Vermont (CCV) and Champlain College, Andrew is set to earn his bachelor’s degree from Lakeland in the summer of 2027. He will be the first in his family to graduate from college.

After graduating from high school in 2013, Andrew got a rough start to college, with a California-based art-school program focused on game design. When that program didn’t pan out and he moved back east—settling in central Vermont in 2016—he was advised to restart with a more traditional college program at the Community College of Vermont.

Andrew credits one of his CCV professors, Ritalea Sweeny, for getting him interested in the marketing field. After connecting with the program at Lakeland that helped him achieve his first dream—living in Japan—he now hopes completing his college degree will help him achieve his second goal: working in marketing and advertising.

Between college programs, Andrew held various retail and brand-ambassador jobs, worked in event and bank security, and did some manufacturing work. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he says. “But I decided to finish school because I realized that without a college degree, I would always stay in a low-income job.”

Working through challenges

He knew finishing college would likely improve his financial situation, but he also faced more than the usual number of challenges for an adult student looking to go back to school. Andrew says his biggest barrier was a fear of not being able to find a good work-life balance, between working part-time to cover expenses, being a full-time student, and being a student with several learning disabilities, which means he needs more time to study and absorb the material.

“In terms of my needs, I’m still figuring it all out, to be honest,” he says. “A smaller classroom helps, and I need flexibility when it comes to due dates.”

To help cover costs and make that balance easier, Andrew turned to Hireability Vermont (formerly known as Voc Rehab VT) and VSAC’s Educational Opportunity Center, which works with adult students seeking education and training.

“It was amazing working with my VSAC counselor, Karen McGovern,” says Andrew. “She’s done everything she can to help me find additional funding for things I couldn’t afford for my classes. She was also a great support on the emotional side. If I ever felt lost or was struggling, she knew just what to say to help me find my motivation. Things would definitely have been different without VSAC.”

Andrew also gives a lot of credit to his partner, Linda. “She has always been there for me and has pushed me when things got hard and I felt like giving up. I also appreciate her family being one of my primary supports in Vermont.”

While Andrew says he struggles with writing because of his dyslexia, it’s worth noting that he conducted two interviews for this article entirely over email. And like his grandfather before him, he didn’t hesitate to jump into learning the Japanese language—an intimidating prospect for someone without any difficulties in visual or language processing. “I know a few phrases and words, and I’m learning more every day, the more I observe everyday life. It’s definitely different from English, but when you’re around something 24/7, it’s easy to pick things up,” he says.

Accessibility and success

In terms of finding understanding and accommodation for his learning disabilities in Japan, “It’s honestly a mixed bag,” says Andrew. “In some respects, they are very accommodating with what I need, and other times they don’t really understand. It’s been difficult, but not impossible.” In daily life, however, he finds the Japanese culture to be calm, safe, and accessible, which is a great fit. “The way things are set up in their society, they accommodate me without intention.”

Andrew hopes he can stay and work in Japan after he finishes his program.

“Taking college classes has broadened my mind to the multitude of possibilities out there for me if I have a degree,” says Andrew. “Now that I’ve landed on marketing, though, I don’t think it will change. I hope one day I can work for a Japanese video game company doing marketing. I love it here. I couldn’t be happier.”