International Student Stories brought to you by Study in the USA

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, swappe...

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...

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...

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 languag...

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 empowe...

SEASON 2 — EPISODE 3 Engineering a Legacy: Overcoming Expectations, Gender Roles, and Cancer (Part 2) Juliana Pereira returns for Part 2 of her powerful two-part interview — and this chapter reveals the depth of her resilience. Now working as a Geotechnical Engineer, Juliana carries not only the technical responsibility of her profession, but also a deep sense of purpose. As a woman in STEM, she u...

SEASON 2 — EPISODE 4 Chasing the Hogwarts Fantasy: Transporting to the U.K. (Part 1) For many, the magic of Harry Potter was an escape into another world. For Paige Steffy, it was also a glimpse into her future. Inspired by stories of adventure and possibility, Paige pursued her own international journey. She graduated from UC Davis with a double major in Psychology and Spanish, then worked in the...

SEASON 2 — EPISODE 5 The Future of EdTech: Hope, Empathy, and Connection (Part 2) Paige Steffy returns for Part 2 of her two-part conversation — and this episode shifts from personal journey to global perspective. Having experienced life as an international graduate student in the U.K., Paige understands firsthand the emotional complexity of studying abroad: the uncertainty, the excitement, the ho...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 1 Rewriting the Code: Black Women in STEM Jessie Gentles is part of the 3%. The tech industry has become one of the most lucrative and fast-growing sectors in the world. But within that rapid growth lies a stark reality: Black women represent only a small fraction of the IT workforce. Born in Jamaica and now a software engineering student at Miami University, Jessie is determine...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 2 Escaping 1977 Vietnam: Finding a Place to Belong A year remembered for the Fall of Saigon and “Black April.” A year marked by uncertainty, upheaval, and impossible decisions. For Danny Nguyen and his family, it was the year everything changed. Caught in the aftermath of a war-torn Vietnam, Danny’s parents faced a choice no family should have to make. Call it courage. Call it d...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 3 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 searc...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 4 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 a...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 5 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 e...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 6 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...

SEASON 3 — EPISODE 7 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...

SEASON 1 — EPISODE 1 Welcome to International Student Stories Welcome to the very first episode of International Student Stories , a podcast proudly brought to you by Study in the USA — a trusted leader in international student recruitment and higher education marketing since 1977. For nearly five decades, Study in the USA has partnered with colleges, universities, and English language programs ac...

SEASON 1 — EPISODE 2 Faith, Family, and Finding Purpose Abroad In Episode 2, we sit down with Pietro Rossini, a 29-year-old Xaverian Missionary from Salerno, Italy, currently pursuing his Master of Science in Journalism at Boston University. Before beginning graduate studies, Pietro completed an ESL program at Framingham State University — an experience that helped shape his transition into academ...

SEASON 1 — EPISODE 7 Moving Out of Your Comfort Zone (Part 1) Valeria Rivera embodies the powerful growth that happens when you choose courage over comfort. Originally from San Salvador, El Salvador, Valeria came to the United States as a shy international student unsure of her voice and place in a new culture. Today, she is just one semester away from earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Adm...

SEASON 1 — EPISODE 8 Moving Out of Your Comfort Zone (Part 2) Valeria Rivera returns for Part 2 of her powerful two-part interview — and this episode goes even deeper. In this conversation, we explore Valeria’s love of art, creative expression, and the inspiration she draws from her lived experiences. She reflects on the mentors, family members, and life moments that have shaped not only her artis...

SEASON 2 — EPISODE 1 Court’s in Session: Restarting a Law Career in a New Country Rezarta Mataj had already built an extraordinary career at a remarkably young age. By 24, she had become a federal judge in Albania. Soon after, she built a beautiful family and earned recognition as an adjunct professor at both public and private law schools across the country. By every measure, she had achieved suc...

SEASON 2 — EPISODE 2 Breaking Societal Norms: Women Do Belong in STEM (Part 1) Juliana Pereira is a trailblazer. Raised by a single mother in Florianópolis, Brazil, she learned early that there is no limit to what women can achieve. Determined, ambitious, and fearless in pursuit of impact, Juliana began college at just 16 years old and earned her degree in journalism. But her vision extended beyon...