A podcast residency presented by Study in the USA in partnership with Los Angeles City College  ·  Host: Soleil Perrin

What happens when your path doesn’t unfold on the timeline you expected?

Dr. Sobia Khan came to the United States from Pakistan as a young international student, wife, and mother. With three children, no extended family nearby, and limited resources, she took night classes, swapped childcare with a friend, and spent ten years earning her bachelor’s degree. What followed was a journey she could never have imagined: a master’s and PhD, a career as an English professor, and eventually leadership roles at community colleges across the country. Today, she serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles City College. khan.docxDOCX

In this episode Dr. Khan talks with Soleil Perrin about growing up in Pakistan, finding freedom in books and writing, building a life as an international student in the U.S., and discovering her own path to leadership. They explore the power of community colleges, belonging, persistence, and why there is no single timeline for building a meaningful life.

It’s a conversation about education as transformation, finding your voice, and continuing to raise your hand when opportunity appears.

What happens when college gives you the chance to rewrite the story you thought had already been written for you?

When Luis Martinez finished high school, he felt defeated and unsure whether higher education was even in his future. Los Angeles City College gave him a place to start again. What began with a visit to an enrollment fair led Luis to discover LACC’s Game Art and Design program, mentors who believed in him, and a creative community that helped him recognize his own potential. 

In this episode of International Student Stories, host Soleil Perrin talks with Luis about game design, digital storytelling, world-building and the power of diverse voices in gaming. Luis shares how he turns personal experiences and culture into interactive art, from a playful cactus sheriff fighting pollution to a horror game inspired by La Llorona that explores mental health, folklore and identity. 

He also reflects on transferring from LACC to UCLA, the difficult personal period that accompanied that transition, and the professors, friends and counselors who continued supporting him even after he left LACC. Today, as he prepares to graduate from UCLA in Design Media Arts, Luis is thinking about what comes next, including the possibility of someday becoming an educator himself. 

His advice to students still figuring out their own path is wonderfully simple: explore, make connections, find what you're passionate about, and don't put so much pressure on yourself.

What does it take to go from a young refugee learning English in a new country to leading one of the most diverse community colleges in America?

In this episode of International Student Stories, host Soleil Perrin sits down with Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of Los Angeles City College, to explore a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, mentorship, and the transformative power of education.

Dr. Gebru reflects on immigrating to the United States at the age of eight, navigating life as a first-generation college student, and the teachers, counselors, coaches, and mentors who helped him discover opportunities he never imagined. Along the way, he shares why community colleges are one of higher education's greatest engines of access, opening doors for students from every background and every stage of life.

Together, they discuss global education, the importance of belonging, LACC's vibrant international community, and why creating a welcoming campus can change the trajectory of a student's life. Dr. Gebru also shares how mentorship has shaped his own career and why he believes every student deserves someone who believes in their potential.

Whether you're an international student, an educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of opportunity, this conversation is a reminder that where you begin doesn't define where you can go.

International Student Stories – Episode featuring Luisa

In this episode, we sit down with Luisa, a German international student who came to the US to play volleyball on scholarship at Madonna University — and ended up building a career as a television news reporter at Fox 47 in Lansing, Michigan.

Luisa shares what it was really like to leave her hometown of Potsdam, Germany, navigate a new language and culture, and push herself out of her comfort zone at every turn — from working as a barista to producing a campus talk show. She opens up about the mental challenges of competing at the college level, the ups and downs of breaking into broadcast journalism with a strong accent, and why she believes international students should always say their dreams out loud.

Whether you're an international student yourself, an athlete thinking about studying abroad, or someone who loves an honest story about grit and reinvention — this one's for you.

Topics covered:

• Growing up in Potsdam, Germany
• Coming to the US on a volleyball scholarship
• Adjusting to American culture and overcoming the language barrier
• Studying broadcast journalism at Madonna University
• Landing a job as an on-air TV reporter
• Tips for improving your English accent
• Advice for international students chasing big dreams

Liberty Hombe is an advocate for justice — the ultimate example of someone who turns challenges into opportunities. Liberty is a pre-med student born in Zimbabwe but spent much of his childhood in South Africa. He is attending Minnesota State University in Mankato and has started several student organizations that help improve the lives of international students. Today, you can find Liberty empowering students to find their voice as he himself exemplifies the change he wants to see in the world. This is his story.

The Psychology of Test-Taking: How to Crush Anxiety and Succeed in Life

Dr. Dimitrios Vonofakos joins us to continue the conversation sparked in our previous episode, “Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of a Grad School Exam,” alongside Anish Merchant.

But this time, we go deeper.

Drawing from his background in psychoanalysis and his work at Merchant GMAT & Admissions, Dr. Dimitrios explores the psychological foundations of test-taking — unpacking why anxiety arises, how fear manifests, and what mental frameworks actually help students perform at their highest level.

This conversation moves beyond the GMAT.

Dr. D reframes test anxiety as something universal — a metaphor for the fear, comparison, perfectionism, and self-doubt we face in everyday life. Through thoughtful insight and practical strategies, he shares how students (and professionals) can navigate mental blocks, apply structured problem-solving frameworks, and learn when it’s okay to “skip” — not every problem needs to be solved immediately.

This episode is not just about crushing anxiety on an exam.

It’s about developing the mindset to face life’s biggest challenges with clarity, confidence, and resilience.

Episode Summary

01:52 – Dimitrios reflects on a cherished childhood photo and early influences.
 03:15 – His journey to studying psychoanalysis at the University of Essex.
 05:10 – How he integrates psychoanalytic principles into his work at Merchant GMAT & Admissions.
 06:31 – What first sparked his interest in the GMAC and standardized testing psychology.
 07:28 – If the GMAT were a person, how would he describe it?
 08:16 – What the GMAT is actually trying to bring out in test-takers.
 09:02 – Why fear is the greatest challenge students face during high-stakes exams.
 10:37 – The gap between score-improvement promises and psychological reality.
 11:47 – How people truly deal with anxiety.
 14:40 – Frameworks Merchant uses to navigate mental blocks and test anxiety.
 18:18 – The GMAT as a metaphor for the psychological challenges of life.
 21:51 – The concept of “skipping” — and why you don’t have to solve everything at once.
 22:56 – Two essential insights for navigating both exams and life’s pressures.
 25:40 – How to connect with Merchant GMAT & Admissions.

Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of Grad School Exams

Anish Merchant often references “The Hero’s Journey” — the timeless story of a protagonist who leaves home in search of belonging, only to discover that the journey itself reshapes who they are.

Inspired by that narrative, Anish left the United States in pursuit of his own grand adventure. His path led him to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he discovered not only a new home, but a new calling.

What could have been the conclusion of one chapter instead marked the beginning of another.

That next chapter became Merchant GMAT & Admissions, Anish’s company dedicated to helping students navigate the GMAT, graduate admissions, and the deeper lessons embedded in the process. For Anish, the GMAT isn’t just a standardized exam — it’s a metaphor for life: structured thinking, resilience under pressure, strategic risk-taking, and confronting the fear of failure.

In this episode, Anish reflects on adventure, entrepreneurship, MBA culture, and why exams — much like life — are less about perfection and more about growth.

Episode Summary

02:53 – The meaning behind Anish’s name.
 03:39 – How seeking adventure led him to Buenos Aires and changed his life trajectory.
 05:58 – What resonated so deeply with him about Argentina.
 07:05 – The origins of Merchant GMAT & Admissions.
 10:44 – How Anish views the role of an MBA degree in someone’s life.
 12:05 – Why the GMAT or MBA should be seen as a means to an end, not the end itself.
 14:48 – The importance of knowing what you don’t want, as much as what you do want.
 18:47 – Comparing the MBA journey to the broader path of life.
 19:34 – How the GMAT serves as a metaphor for resilience and structured problem-solving.
 21:40 – Breaking down the thinking frameworks embedded within the GMAT.
 24:15 – Addressing the fear of failure and how it limits potential.
 26:35 – How working in international education transformed his own path.
 28:00 – His favorite superhero — and the superpower he’d choose.

Unlocking the Universe: From Forbes 30 Under 30 to New Frontiers in Science (Part 2)

Maryam Esmat returns for Part 2 of her extraordinary two-part interview — and this chapter expands from storytelling to the cosmos.

A Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 honoree, Maryam continues to push the boundaries of astrophysics while pursuing her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of her work with NASA, through AURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy), at the Space Telescope Science Institute, contributing to the historic James Webb Space Telescope mission.

From calibrating the telescope to supporting exoplanet researchers in using its groundbreaking technology, Maryam offers a rare glimpse into the collaborative and global nature of modern astrophysics.

But her work does not stop at telescopes.

Maryam also dives into her current research on dark matter — one of the most mysterious and foundational questions in modern physics — while speaking candidly about the rarity of Arabs, particularly Arab women, in the physics and astrophysics communities.

This episode is about scientific discovery, representation, mentorship, and legacy. Maryam is not only unlocking the universe — she’s opening doors for the next generation to do the same.

Episode Summary

02:00 – Maryam reflects on her time at the Space Telescope Science Institute, working on the James Webb Space Telescope.
 05:29 – Two major projects she contributed to: (1) calibrating the telescope and (2) guiding exoplanet scientists in its use.
 07:27 – Her reaction to being named to Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30.
 09:14 – An accessible explanation of dark matter and why it matters.
 15:32 – Collaborating with leading scientists, including the HAYSTAC collaboration and Dr. Katelyn Breivik.
 20:11 – Debunking misconceptions about the astrophysics community.
 23:28 – The rarity of Arabs — especially women — in physics and astrophysics.
 26:25 – A call to Arab physicists worldwide and her involvement in a global Discord network connecting them.
 27:07 – Her commitment to mentoring students through EducationUSA, astrophysics research, and creative writing.
 29:00 – Advice for students considering studying in the United States.

Prologue to Greatness: Author, Astrophysicist, and Mentor

At just 24 years old, Maryam Esmat’s life already reads like a greatest hits album.

Recognized on Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 for her groundbreaking work in astrophysics, and named the youngest published author in the Middle East, Maryam has achieved what many spend a lifetime pursuing. Yet, if you ask her where we are in her story, she’ll tell you something unexpected:

We’ve only read the prologue.

Born and raised in Giza, Egypt, Maryam grew up in a home filled with books, curiosity, and academic rigor. Her love for science and storytelling emerged from the intersections of history, culture, literature, and the human psyche. Today, she is pursuing her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, continuing to push boundaries in both science and narrative.

In this episode, Maryam reflects on identity, intellectual curiosity, mentorship, and the courage to dream beyond geography. She speaks about studying abroad in the United States, challenging misconceptions about international students, and blending astrophysics with creative writing in ways that redefine what it means to be multidimensional.

Her journey reminds us that greatness is not a destination — it’s a mindset.

And her story is only just beginning.

Episode Summary

03:09 – Maryam introduces us to her childhood in Giza, Egypt, and the city that shaped her.
 03:53 – Growing up in a household of readers, academics, and endless books.
 05:06 – How her parents’ interests in history and culture sparked her passion for science.
 06:05 – Why the U.S. liberal arts education model drew her to study abroad.
 07:32 – How her family supported her decision to pursue education in the U.S.
 11:19 – Reflections on how perceptions of her journey have changed over time.
 13:30 – Observations on the geographic and cultural diversity of the United States.
 15:06 – Misconceptions U.S. residents may hold about international students.
 17:49 – An overview of her award-winning novel, The Escaping Flashback, and its inspiration.
20:30 – How she grounds her writing in science, human interaction, and psychology.
22:05 – Looking back on her creative writing thesis at Lycoming College, The Evolution of Storytelling in Egypt.
25:13 – The next story Maryam hopes to tell.

Elevating the Student Voices of Tomorrow (Part 2)

Danny Nguyen returns for Part 2 of his powerful two-part interview — shifting the conversation from personal history to future impact.

Now serving as Vice President of Administrative Services at Mission College, Danny brings both lived experience and institutional leadership to the table. Having once been a refugee child searching for belonging, and later an educator deeply shaped by his students, he understands the transformative power of being heard.

In this episode, Danny shares his optimistic vision for the future of international education — one rooted in empathy, representation, and authentic student voice.

Yet optimism does not mean complacency.

Danny candidly reflects on areas where higher education must improve, particularly in recognizing and valuing the unique experiences international students bring to classrooms, workplaces, and communities. From the realities of job prospecting to the emotional weight of comparison, this conversation explores both the challenges students face and the systems that must evolve.

At its heart, this episode is about one core belief: when we elevate student voices, we strengthen the future of education itself.

Episode Summary

02:09 – Danny reflects on how meeting international students from diverse backgrounds shaped him as a teacher.
 05:30 – How his teaching experiences influence his leadership role at Mission College.
 07:42 – His mission to actively listen to and elevate student voices.
 10:44 – What friends, family members, and higher education professionals can do to support international students.
 13:46 – Danny’s optimism for the future of international education and the innovation sparked by diversity.
 16:36 – Why the value of international student experiences is often overlooked in job prospecting.
 18:49 – Managing the weight of comparison and advice for students navigating similar pressures.
 20:51 – The importance of community and belonging for international students.