Summer — 2009

Miguel Saenz

Computer Science/ESL

“I came here because people told me that California is the best state in the US. I have to say that I think they were right.”

Change has recently become a major force in the young life of Miguel Saenz. Born in Peru, he flew off to America in search of a better life. The “green card” came quickly, since Miguel’s dad was already here. Then there was a stint at another area college, which he didn’t report on favorably. And finally there was SMC, ESL, CIS… oh, so much to adapt to!

“I’ve been at SMC for a year now, and I really like this place very much,” says Miguel in excellent English. “This college has been a great place for me to learn, and the campuses here are all very beautiful. Like, the Bundy campus? It all feels completely brand new. And I feel like I have very many opportunities here. This is a place where you can speak with people from all over the world: Russia, China, Europe… everywhere! And this always makes me feel like my own world is getting bigger all the time. I just feel very, very comfortable being here.”

The English language—a hybrid between a bear and an alligator for some—has not proven to be much of a stumbling block for Miguel. “I have my ESL classes with Julie Easton, and she has been the perfect teacher for me. She really cares for her students, and she knows that learning English is the most important thing for us if we want to go anywhere in this country.” It’s Miguel’s plan to study Computer Science and “maybe go to work for some big Internet server, or something like that. But I also want to study Interior Design with the AutoCad programs—just for my artistic side. But so far—and mostly getting A’s—I feel that SMC will allow me to go anywhere in life that I want.”

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