You recently came from Iran; did you attend high school there before attending high school here?

Yes, I came from Iran a year and a half ago. I went to PVP (Palos Verdes Peninsula High School) for three semesters, the last semester of my junior year and both semesters of my senior year. It was quite a challenge because of my English.

Did you learn English here or back in Iran?

Well, when I moved here I knew a little bit, well, not a little bit, quite a bit of English. I took the placement test here when I went to high school and they placed me in the regular English class, but that was way too hard for me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to pass that class.

Tell me about how EC differs from your high schools both here and in Iran.

Wow, a lot! Well, in Iran, one school is for girls and one school is for boys, so when I moved here it was quite a difference because the high schools were mixed and everything. The thing that I didn’t like about high school here is that the kids already had their cliques and groups of friends, so it was hard to fit in, and you know it wasn’t their fault but they have already had their friends since elementary school. So college is better because you get more variety. The students are more mature here. So I think college is better.

Why is it you came to America and your parents didn’t?

My reason for coming here is because the universities here are much better than in Iran; and I came here because I am a music major and it’s illegal to be a female musician in Iran.

What do you hope to walk away with after leaving EC?

Well, I’m really hoping to improve my English here (at EC) and realize what I want to do. I know I want to play music, but with that career, you are either going to be really rich or really poor, so I’m also considering business. Maybe architecture; my dad is an architect. He has his own business in Iran. I hope I find one other thing I like besides music.

Anything else you want to add?

I’m really happy here because here you can be who you want to be. You have so many options; it’s just wonderful.