Worldwide college students at Santiago Canyon School, President Jeannie Kim, in white, SCC Worldwide College students Program director Jetza Torres and congresswoman Younger Kim, have a good time recognition of this system. (Picture by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer)
College students in SCC’s Worldwide College students Program come from 26 nations from around the globe, together with China, Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ski Lanka, France, Mexico and Colombia. Because the 2024 fall semester nears, enrollment is inching towards final fall’s excessive of 101 college students.
The variety of worldwide college students has been rising steadily every year for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, this system’s director, Jetza Torres, stated. “We’re doing very, very nicely in our program.”
Santiago Canyon School has a popularity within the U.S. and overseas for its high-quality educational packages and pupil assist companies, Torres defined. In Could, she accepted an Export Achievement Certificates from the Deputy Undersecretary for Worldwide Commerce Administration on the U.S. Division of Commerce. The certificates acknowledges companies and academic establishments for his or her work with abroad markets.
This system not too long ago was offered with a commendation from Rep. Younger Kim, who represents California’s fortieth congressional district.
College students in international nations find out about SCC from their highschool counselors, recruiters, academic companies or family and friends.
They’re interested in SCC by the student-centered strategy, customized consideration and its secure and welcoming surroundings, Torres stated. Additionally they admire the small class sizes the place they received’t get misplaced. “Most of our worldwide college students come from non-public excessive colleges the place they’re accustomed to lecture rooms with fewer college students,” she stated.
Enterprise administration is a well-liked program amongst worldwide college students as are the various STEM packages, she factors out.
The school accepts worldwide college students thrice a 12 months. “We’ve got three intakes—we settle for college students in fall, spring and summer time,” she stated, explaining that that is to accommodate the highschool calendars in international nations. “Our work on the worldwide workplace by no means stops as a result of we’re recruiting, we’re accepting functions, reviewing functions and issuing these admissions letters all 12 months spherical.”
One latest SCC graduate, Muhammad Shahmir Shamim, 21, who was born in Pakistan and grew up in Saudi Arabia, had already enrolled in one other U.S. faculty when he visited SCC on the invitation of a buddy. He was instantly impressed with the friendliness of everybody he met on campus. He was even invited to sit down in on a category he was concerned with.
“Though they have been full, they included me within the class,” he stated. “And it was actually, actually welcoming.” He crammed out all of the paperwork as quickly as he may and commenced attending SCC.
He inspired his youthful brother, Muhammad Shahwar Shamim, to additionally come to SCC. It wasn’t exhausting to persuade him.
“First, I’m already there, so I knew the environment,” stated Shamim of his brother’s resolution to affix him. “Second, due to how useful everyone seems to be at Santiago Canyon School — not simply worldwide college students, however everybody.”
Muhammad Shahmir studied pc science and shall be transferring to UC Irvine. His youthful brother labored exhausting in order that he may graduate on the similar time. He, too, studied pc science and is transferring to Cal State Fullerton.
The brothers credit score their mother and father, each engineers and faculty professors in Saudi Arabia, for instilling in them the drive to get an schooling. Finding out so removed from residence, they admire the assist SCC gives.
“The worldwide pupil program workplace takes satisfaction in providing distinctive customer support in faculty expertise to make sure a pupil’s success,” stated Torres, admitting that her enterprise background causes her to specific the success in enterprise phrases. She has labored in worldwide enterprise and schooling for greater than 20 years. “This system helps them combine into the campus socially and academically to allow them to switch to a four-year faculty. Our college students are our precedence,” she stated.
Trying again on their years at SCC, the Shamim brothers fortunately recalled the various social actions organized by SCC’s Worldwide Scholar Program, comparable to outings to baseball video games and Common Studios. Throughout exams, college students have been taken to the seashore to take pleasure in pizza and a bonfire to present them a break from the stress of finding out.
Worldwide college students convey a significant dimension to campus life, Torres stated. “There is no such thing as a doubt that internet hosting worldwide college students has many benefits for any U.S. schooling establishment,” she stated. “It promotes international residents, promotes intercultural understanding and enhances that range of perspective at school discussions. We will all profit from that.”
Whether or not within the classroom or exterior, assembly college students from different nations broadens the view of American college students. “Simply interacting with worldwide college students from completely different backgrounds allows all college students to kind new views and maybe see the world otherwise,” Torres stated. “Bringing folks from around the globe into campus is a good way to be taught concerning the experiences of others and permit us to be extra understanding and respectful of these variations. So, worldwide college students promote cultural consciousness and improve that range of perspective at school discussions.”
