The Pioneer Volume 51, Issue 2

10 / CAMPUS
Oct. 25, 2017 / Vol. 51, Issue 2
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Li’s goal: Make more friends
By BEATRIX CENDANA
Contributing Writer
SABRINA LI, AN INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT FROM CHINA, is a very
active and energetic student. This is her
second year at Pierce and she wants to
make a new change in her life by achieving
her goals to be a successful woman.
Her major is business marketing and her
goal is to finish high school at Pierce and
get an associate of arts degree to apply to a
four-year university.
“My goal isn’t just for academic only, but
personally, I’d like to be more sociable in
some organizations, get involved in many
activities that are related with leadership
or any kinds of events. Another goal that
I have attempted to reach is to know more
people then know how to understand
myself.”
She has already achieved one of
those goals. She met her best friend at a
“Students of Colors Conference.” Through
her friend, she has been introduced to
other activities and events.
One of the biggest adjustments she
said she had to make was to her schedule.
Along with her class schedule, she is
looking to manage the business club.
“Time goes really fast. … My feeling is
in a hurry because I have lots of things
to do, like study in class for four courses,
get a new job. Let say it is time for me to
rearrange my schedule,” Li said.
In the past year, she has built memories
and learned better study habits. Like many
college students, she has learned that
procrastination does not make for good
grades.
“When I enrolled in English 101
in the last quarter, I had to deal with
procrastination that affected my grades.
By that time, I always submitted the
assignments until one minute before the
due date and it was awful. I had asked my
English teacher to extend the due date,
(but) for some reason she rejected (it)
since she thought it wasn’t a technical
problem or something happened. After
that, I was struggling enough to get a 4.0
Sabrina juggles classes.
Student Government and
the business club.
but no matter what, I couldn’t get that best
grade for this course just because of the
silly thing I have done.”
She said she used this experience to
step up her efforts to improve her time
management. In setting her schedule, she
now knows which one to put first before
others, including when to prioritize her
business club, too.
Li said her experience with her English
professor has not dimmed her opinion
of people on campus. She still finds
them friendly and mostly approachable.
She finds her professors always offer
encouragement for every student wo
participate in discussions or lectures.
Li said one of her biggest challenges as
an international student is to get to know
more people and use English as her second
language to speak with them.
“It is kind of hard thing to do for me too
when I read a textbook in every subject.
Fortunately, I changed my study style so
I could get through all courses well. And
also, the challenge for me was the first time
I studied here. I never knew that I could
choose the courses based on my skill and
what I wanted. I was confused (on how)
Beatrix Cendana/Contributing Writer
to choose the subjects that were possibly
good for my future career,” she said.
However, she said she does not
let a language barrier stop her from
pursuing opportunities on campus. As an
engagement senator in Student Life, she
has a major responsibility.
“My main job is to maintain all
upcoming events, then promote the event
to all students in Pierce College. I believe
that this promotion will attract all students
to get more involved without being shy or
afraid to be more sociable.”
She offers this encouragement to all
students: “I hope all of them can step out
of (their) comfort zone, especially for
international students. I try to encourage
them to ask if they have questions. Just
don’t be shy and make more friends
with anybody in Pierce, including local
students. Sometimes I found many
students that were so introverted and
never cared about anybody else, except
themselves. It wasn´t good to stay alone
since we are social persons and need to
engage with another people. Thus, we
could learn new perspectives and cultures
from many views.”