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Hello Class,

My name is Avishag Poratti and I'm from Los Angeles. I'm 19 years old and this is my second semester in SMC. Quite shockingly...im getting married February 18. I know that I'm young and yes it's crazy!

There are 6 kids in my family. I'm the third, but the first to get married. My fiancé is Josh Banafsheh and he is 21. He is a contractor. A few of you who went to YULA all know him for sure. I'll attach a picture of us :) I love helping others out no matter for what. My mom has an organization that she creates beautiful centerpieces for weddings and events that people can't afford.

I'm a neat freak. I need everything to always be organized. I love working out- any type of exercise. Art is also my passion. I love traveling. My favorite places are Costa Rica, Israel, and NY. College is a lot of fun. I have so many friends here with me and I absolutely love learning and studying. I'm looking to major in a Dental Hygiene bachelor program. It's my interest because I always aim to make a positive difference, and this profession greatly aids people’s health. I'm sure I'll love it. A person’s smile is more precious than any jewelry.

That's it for now. Looking forward to getting to know more of you.

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Hello Everyone. My name is Carlos De La Roca, I am twenty years old and I am excited to be sharing a bit about myself. This is my third year at SMC and I am excited to be moving on to a four-year university this fall. My major is Computer Science and this class is my first Biology related class since my freshman year of high school back in 2010. My passion for CS began after I developed an interest in one of my high school classmates. I found out that she loved to code, so I rushed to the internet to learn how to code. Learning how to code was my first exposure to the CS field. Unfortunately, it did not work out between me and my classmate, but it did work out between me and CS. After that, my interest in CS had developed into a passion for innovation and creativity so i continue now to learn how i can make an impact in this world with my skills.

One of my dream jobs is to work for Google, JPL, SpaceX, Imgur, The Honest Company, or Tesla. I would also enjoy being a zookeeper. I love animals and nature, so being in the presence of beautiful animals would be really really awesome. Some of my hobbies include listening to music, playing my guitar, watching shows on Netflix("The Office" is my fave!), surfing the web, and EATING. I am very blessed to live in K-town because of the KBBQ, Boba, Pho and a lot of other food places that surround my neighboorhood. If anyone wants to hang out and get some KBBQ or Boba, I know some good places.

Finally, I am very excited to be taking this class. I look forward to receiving a deeper understanding about life and appreciate it all together. I also look forward to making new friends.

-Carlos D
This is my lil sis and me!

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My name is Sheila Yaghoubi and I am 18 years old. I was born in Orange County. I graduated from Beverly Hills High School. I am shy in the beginning but when I warm up to others I tend to be known as the outgoing girl. I love listening to music, watching shows,  and going out with friends on my spare time. I love going out and exploring new places and things with friends.

My major is psychology and hope to become a psychologist. I chose psychology as my career path because I like having people come to me and expressing their emotions when needed. I like helping them with situations they are stuck in and need advice on. After SMC, I am planning on transferring to UCLA. The picture is of me (on the right) and my friend.

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Hi everyone!

My name is Julia Sintari and I am from Indonesia. I’m 19 years old and I want to major in Business Administration. I came to SMC to improve on my English and academic skills before heading off to university. My top 3 schools are USC, Pepperdine and LMU. I’m applying for the Fall 2016 semester and I am super nervous about it. I haven’t taken a science course since high school, which was 2 years ago. Moving to LA has been quite hard because I had to learn how to be responsible and independent. Where as back home I had my parents and maid to help me out.

I have a puppy right now, which is killing me because she is not potty trained yet. Her name is Namie because I love rice and noodles (rice in Bahasa Indonesia is Nasi and noodle in Bahasa Indonesia is Mie). She’s a mix of poodle and I don’t know what but I have attached a picture below. I love playing basketball (although I am short) and I’m learning how to play a guitar.

I get really homesick sometimes mostly because of the food back home. If you guys want to try Indonesian food, I would say that the most O.K. Indonesian restaurant in LA would have to be Ramayani. Go check it out and let me know what your thoughts are on Indonesian food!

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Hey class,

I am a first year student at SMC. I plan on staying here for two years until I transfer to a UC as a psychology major. Once I graduate, I hope to go to grad school and become a doctor.

I was born and raised in Encino and love it. There is nowhere else I'd rather be.

Music plays a huge role in my life. I listen to many different genres including hip-hop, rap, EDM, rock, alternative, indie folk, and more. My favorite artists include J. Cole, Kanye West, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flume, and Diplo. I have played the guitar for seven years which is one of the reasons for my diverse taste in music. I started off playing Spanish and classical music for five years but two years ago I started playing rock and other similar genes.

I also love playing and watching basketball. I am born a die hard Laker fan and stick with them through tick and thin. Given their recent turmoil, three years ago I became a Golden State fan (I swear I'm not a bandwagon but no one will believe me) because I have always loved the bay area and plan on moving there when I'm older.

Can't wait to get to know you guys better, I'm very excited to learn biology with you!

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My name is Hediyeh Salehi and this is my second year at SMC as a Psychobiology major. I’m hoping to transfer to a UC next fall to complete my undergraduate degree and if all things work out go to medical school for pediatrics. I live in Agoura Hills, which is about an hour away from SMC. Most people ask me why I drive so far when there are so many other community colleges near by. I tell them this: SMC is a great school filled with rich culture, diversity, and an abundance of opportunities. When I first came to SMC I was very lost. I really didn’t think I had to pursue the community college route as I was planning in high school to go straight into a four-year institution. But when my plans didn’t work out I chose SMC for all the great stats and reviews I heard. As expected, I wasn’t disappointed as I immediately reaped the benefits of attending this renowned community college. I am currently involved in a number of programs that are in tune with my passions of healthcare, science, and global awareness. With every professor came an immense amount of knowledge as well as a greater life perspective. Not only have I explored my passions, expanded my knowledge, I have also created life long friends. SMC has truly been a great experience.

Other than going to school I have a ton of other hobbies, my two favorites being hiking and traveling. I really love to explore nature and learn all about its great wonders. I also really enjoy learning about new cultures and traditions. My most favorite place I have so far gone to is Turkey. My mother is part Turkish, so I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn about my heritage. The experience was miraculous. The architecture, food, and lifestyle of the Turkish people was so beautiful. I stayed there for a month so I had plenty of time to absorb all of its beauty.

In all, I am hoping 2016 will bring me a ton of new positive explorations and experiences!

Here I am posting a photo in took in Antalya, Turkey!

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Hi everyone! My name is David Ramirez and I am beginning my second year at SMC. I graduated from Santa Monica High School in 2012 and then I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for one year. Unfortunately, I had to come back home because my dad injured his back and had to stop working, so I decided to take a year off from school and work full-time at my Boys & Girls Club. I don't plan to transfer back to Cal Poly, instead I am planning to attend LMU next Spring as a Business Major. Bio 3 is a required course, but I couldn't be any happier with this class.

In my spare time, I like to read or watch films about history, draw, run, go to the gym, hike, spend time with my sister eating pizza, and I really enjoy riding Sara (my bike). I am President of the Adelante Club at SMC. Our club currently has two mentoring programs with the middle school students called Brother to Brother and Sister to Sister. We are partnered up with students who are struggling in their academics or who have it rough at home. The purpose of these programs are to show the students that we are there for them and that we care for their success.

I am majoring in Business Administration and I aspire to become a CEO of a non-profit organization. My family has received a lot of support from non-profits such as Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM), Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica, among others. CCSM provides affordable housing for low income families, and my family was fortunate enough to be selected to move into one of their new buildings in the summer of 2007. The Boys & Girls Club is more than just an after school program for me - it was my second home since I was member for 10 years. Seeing how much non-profits impact the lives of people, I want to continue that movement and impact the lives of others.

Here's a picture of my friend and I in South Africa, where we built their very first Boys & Girls Club in the townships of Soweto in Johannesburg.

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Hello there! My name is Manuela, this is my second year at SMC and my major is Psychology and I am also studying in the department of cosmetology at SMC. For my cosmetology license, I learn how to do hair, skin, nails, and make up. It's a lot of fun being in the cosmetology program, especially since we get hands-on training with every practical class, and it is a heavy amount of work, but nothing is impossible. I plan to transfer to UCLA and focus on my Psychology major, while I get my cosmetology license.

I live in East Los Angeles, and I've been living there my whole life. I recently visited my dad's hometown ranch during Christmas in Jalisco, Mexico called La Tortuga, and I had a blast. I was able to visit my family members and friends. We had parties everyday, with a live Spanish musical group also called a "banda" in Spanish. They had a parade of horses with nearby ranches that came to visit for the event of the bulls and horses in the corral, and I rode horses with my cousin and friends.

I enjoy hiking, seeing beautiful views, and riding horses. I'm an adventurous person, I like traveling and visiting places that I have not yet seen. When I'm completed with school, I plan on traveling to every country that I wish to visit.

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Hey guys, my name's Shireen Arami. It's my first year at SMC and I'm trying to transfer out to UCSB for two years and come back and go to UCLA Dental School. I've always like biology, but I've always hated chemistry because I've been so bad at it. But as much as I love biology, I'm so nervous for this class and the other biology classes that are to come.

In my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, no matter what we do. But I am the type of person that needs her alone time. I love to go places alone, just to be in my own head for a little. I don't get that quiet and calm at home. I still live with my parents and my older sister. I also love to paint. In my room I have my own little easel and palette and whenever I have a chance, I just work a little. My technique of choice I would have to say is oil painting but I don't mind using acrylic paints or oil pastels.

The picture that I'm posting is from when my family and I went for a weekend trip to Death Valley. We went off-roading, hiking, star-gazing, and visited ghost towns. I'm the one with the pink sunglasses(:

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Hi Class! My name is Ashley Banayan and I am completing my first full-time year at SMC. Before that I was taking classes through the concurrent education program which has provided me with enough units to transfer this fall. I have applied to most UCs and USC, however my goal be to study Anthropology at USC, I have always loved travel and learning from different cultures, so the major peaked my interests.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I love to travel. I have been to Mexico, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria. I love to take tons of photographs, not only when I travel, but all of the time.

A hobby I do outside of school is oil painting. I started four or so years ago and I have loved it ever since. My teacher is very traditional, but I try to put my own spin on classical art. I use more bright colors and add texture to my paintings.

I hope I will have the pleasure of meeting and working with you all this semester! I wish you all the best of luck.

P.S. I apologize that the photo is not the best quality.

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Hello everyone,

My name is Trae Smith and I’m currently a sophomore here at Santa Monica College. I played Quarterback on the football team this past season (Fall 2015) and we had an undefeated 11-0 record. During my freshman year I founded a student organization at SMC and USC ‘Generation of the Future’ where college students come together and volunteer in the community through fellowship and service for the youth grades K-8 (www.facebook.com/gotfyes). I’ve organized events such as beach clean-ups, food drives, haunted houses, and Nike olympics. I applied to UC and CSU (plus private and other schools for football) for Fall 2016 entrance, so my time has been limited with the student organization as I have prioritized school (currently on the Dean’s Honor List) and football. Whichever school I decide to attend this summer, I will continue to play Quarterback and work towards playing in the NFL.

I study Business Administration (Finance and Law), and haven’t taken a science course since I was in high school. With that being said, I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead with all of you and I want to make this course fun. If I’m not able to play professional football, I will enter the consulting and finance industry with my business degree. I took Accounting and Business Law this past semester and enjoyed it. I was born in Los Angeles and went to Birmingham High School in the valley (Balboa and Victory, Patriots).

My favorite sports teams are the San Diego Chargers and the Los Angeles Lakers. I usually will eat any food with meat, although my favorite is mexican. I enjoy going to the beach, hiking (most outdoor activities), amusement parks, going to the mall, and eating great food.  It would be great to do community service (see extra credit) with you all, and to also form study groups.

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Hello everyone! My name is Shirelle Kashanian and this is my first year at Santa Monica College. I decided to take this class partly because of the influence of my older brother who is studying in the medical field. He encouraged me and educated me on the basics of biology and how interesting the topic is. Having already taken it in high school, I agreed.

I am taking classes at SMC in order to transfer to UCLA or USC. UCLA has been at the top of my list for quite some time, partly because all of my siblings attended there as well. However, attending USC will be one that will make me stand out from my brother and sisters and will surely create some rivalry.

In my free time I enjoy working out; whether it’s hiking or going to the gym, I like to feel in shape and clear my mind. In high school I was on the track team where I primarily sprinted and jumped hurdles. My favorite event was the hurdles race because it gave me a rush of adrenaline when I heard the starter pistols.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone in class!

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My name is Andrea Shahrabani, and this is currently my first year at SMC. So far, I am really enjoying the experience of meeting new people and taking classes on subjects that I am interested in! As I am still a first year, I am still deciding on my major. A few that have caught my attention are Planetary Science, Genetics and Plant Biology, and Atmospheric Science. I plan to apply next fall to UC schools, Berkeley and UCLA being my top choices.

A couple of things about me: I was born in San Francisco, and moved to Los Angeles with my family at the young age of 2. My grandparents and ancestors are originally from Iraq, and eventually moved to Iran when our Jewish community started being persecuted. I currently have family all over the world, including Israel, London, and New York (where I enjoy visiting every summer to see my family and my favorite city).

I also am greatly interested and invested in all forms of art, including music, dance, photography, cooking, drawing, and painting. I'm a ballet dancer, ocasional painter, and I am currently attempting (notice how I say attempting) to learn how to play the ukulele. I am also fluent in French! I adore traveling, hiking (well, I try my best), and swimming whenever I get a chance.

Pictured underneath is from one of my hikes at Runyon Canyon!

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My name is Alicia. I am an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia.

This is my second winter term at Santa Monica College but my first ever lab class. Because I've experienced a winter term, I know how quick and busy the class can get. But with dedication I know that everyone can succeed with their 6-week classes. I am trying to fulfill the IGETC requirement and therefore this should be my first and last lab class. I chose Bio 3 because out of all the sciences, biology is my favorite. I find the field to be both interesting and fun to learn!

One thing you should know about me is that I love to travel. Some would say I have wanderlust. Ever since I was small, my family and I would travel all over. I think my favorite place we went to was Amsterdam. Traveling to me is a wonderful way to spend time with loved ones.

In the future, my dream would be to go to Swiss and take a scenic ride passing through St. Moritz.

I also love to eat, but (unfortunately) not to cook. I pretty much love every cuisine there is; Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Indonesian (of course), Taiwanese, you name it!

Being in Los Angeles is ideal because they have a lot of authentic restaurants to try. So, I encourage everyone to venture out of there comfort zone and try different food from different areas around town!

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Hi, my name is Sabrina Noorvash and this is my first year studying at Santa Monica College. I am currently applying to transfer and my goal is to get into USC for this coming fall. I am still very indecisive about what major I want to pursue. As of now I think I want to be a business major, but constantly change my mind, and am thinking of maybe even becoming a biology major instead. I’m just trying to take as many different classes as I can to see what I like.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and live with my parents and two little brothers. I just graduated from high school last year. I love animals, especially pugs or any other cute wrinkly dogs. I don’t have a dog of my own, but have had birds almost all my life.

I haven't taken a biology class since my freshman year of high school and I am excited to share this experience with everyone in this class!

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Hey everyone, my name is Lucas Wohl and I am currently in my first year at Santa Monica College. While being here at Santa Monica College, I plan on studying Business Marketing and transferring to USC.

I was born in Manhattan Beach, California and moved to Beverly Hills when I was three years old.

I have been surfing and snow boarding for sixteen years. I also have been playing volleyball for ten years and was going to play D1. I love to cook and relax at the beach. My first language was spanish, but unfortunately I have forgotten almost all of it. I also have a twin sister that looks absolutely nothing like me.

My parents got divorced when I was two years old and both have gotten remarried. They also live around the block from each other...

I want to study Business Marketing and Public Policy at USC to work in the entertainment industry.

I also plan to live at my house in Costa Rica for two years after college to surf and relax.

My family has owned the house in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica since the 90's.

Before coming to Santa Monica College, I went to the University of Colorado Boulder for one year. I also have had a girlfriend for two years now and counting...

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Hey everyone ,My name is Dominic Nicholas Nora.This is my second semester at SMC , my plan is to do a one or maybe 2 year transfer to USC to major in Real Estate Development. I went to BHHS, I was captain of the wrestling team the year we beat a team ,Torrence, that we haven't beat in over 60 years. I went undefeated in league .My record was 15 and 0.I am now diet and gym fanatic I enjoy cooking my own meals to manipulate my diet and Cross-fit intense exercise. I make sure my body fat is always under 9%. My favorite sport to watch is soccer . If your a

Cristiano Ronaldo then I have no business talking to you because

Lionel Messi is a Goddddd!!!!

I am not bilingual so, Si yo no hablo español .<--- Thats about the best I got.

I love film and I love photography, I have made some portfolios of my images . My family is Lebanese but born in the US , My whole family speaks arabic accept for me and my brothers......(I thank my mom for that) .

Raised a christian but,I have a very strong hatred for religion , I believe religion is the base for all hatred .

I am that crazy guy that probably hurt you at Coachella in that mosh pit. I am an Edm head. All house music works for me .

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Hey everyone,
I'm Daniel. I moved here from Miami, Florida seven years ago (Woah, I just realized how long ago that is). It feels like it was yesterday that my family and I were loading the giant semi trailer so that we can start a new chapter in our lives. Moving away from family and close friends was one of the toughest events that I've ever conquered. Moving to Beverly Hills, California at age 12 was not the easiest, but it was for the better. One side of my family is Moroccan and the other side of my family is German and Hungarian. My parents were both born in Israel and moved to the U.S at a young age. I speak English and Hebrew. I listen to a lot of music.

My favorite artists include Travis Scott, Kanye West, Big Sean, John Legend, Eminem, and more. My hobbies include going to the gym, playing basketball, filming short films, skits, pranks, making people laugh, and more. I have a YouTube channel (DGKS Entertainment; haven't posted a video in a while) which is extremely fun to run.

I would like to major in communications in UCLA and I am attending SMC in order to get there. I would like to produce, direct, and act in films and television shows. I have worked on the sets of television shows such as the Oprah Winfrey Network's, "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's". I am a heavy watcher/analyst for NBA basketball and my favorite team is the Miami Heat. I have two dogs (A Golden retriever and a Lhasa Apso) by the names of Lucy and Hubba. I am letting my ambitions carry me to where I would like to be in life and I will not back down. Thank you for reading. I am looking forward to spending the next five weeks with all of you.
-Daniel

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Hi everyone!

My name is Sheila Perez and I am a second year student at Santa Monica College. I’m currently at SMC in hopes of transferring to UC Davis as an Environmental major.

I am Mexican; I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I don’t travel much (not outside the United States at least). We have so many international students at SMC and last semester I was so shocked to hear in one of my classes, of all the countries my classmates had been to. One day, after finishing my studies, I will be able to travel around the world, but for now, my summers and winters consist of academics.

I enjoy learning new things, exploring new places, and trying new things – mostly foods and activities. I believe our lives are valuable in which we must experience all what we can within our lifetime, therefore, my motto is, “you’ve got to try everything in life at least once.” Not exactly carpe diem, but I guess you can say that I enjoy a spontaneous and adventurous life. I currently don’t have very many active hobbies, however, I used to play volleyball and do swimming in teams.

Once in a while I’ll go hiking, but lately my hobbies have been watching YouTube beauty videos (my favorite is KathleenLights) and I just started watching an old soap opera on Netflix.

Here's a picture of my trip to Big Bear with my mother and sister right before winter session!

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Hello, my name is Ora and I enjoy baking, cooking, swimming, dancing and singing. For two years in high school, I taught dance choreographies to exercise teachers. I would even join their classes and help the teacher teach the dances.

Last year I went to school abroad in Israel, and it was awesome! Now I'm back in school and I am taking my pre-requisites for Dentistry. This summer I interned at a couple of Dentist offices and I really enjoyed learning new things that I haven't seen before.

I always wanted to go to Hawaii and see the beautiful Islands, volcanoes and breathtaking sceneries. Hopefully, I'll make my way there soon

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Hi everybody! My name is Karen Shilyan and I am currently in my first year of Santa Monica College. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, however my parents were born and emigrated from Iran. As such, I was raised in a Jewish Iranian household.

I am really looking forward to taking Biology as I did not take any science course last semester. This is only my second semester taking classes, but it still feels very new!

Some of my passions in education include History and English! In fact, I have applied to the UC schools as a junior History major, and have plans to apply to USC as a Business major. While my majors and interests are very diverse, I plan on continuing my studies with a pre-law emphasis.

While one of my main priorities is school, I am also deeply involved in the working field as I am the Advertising Sales Manager for the Beverly Hills Weekly Newspaper. I have been working there for the past 2 years and it has influenced my career choices significantly. Additionally, I have been working as a Paid Tutor to two families of five children total in the Los Angeles area for the past five months!

When I am not at work or at school, I am either spending time with my family, my friends, or hiking with my German Shepherd, Duke.

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Hello everyone, my name is sahar Towfigh but recently I have changed my name to Sep Sep but recently My name got changed to Bah Bah  Seeedeh Khanoom lol. Feel free to call me what ever is easier for you.  I am looking forward to meeting each and everyone of you guys.  

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Hello everyone, my name is sahar Towfigh but recently I have changed my name to Sep Sep but recently My name got changed to Bah Bah  Seeedeh Khanoom lol. Feel free to call me what ever is easier for you.  I am looking forward to meeting each and everyone of you guys.  

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A little bit about me: I was born in Tehran Iran and came to america when I was four years old. I am half jewish and half bahai but I'm not relies at all. I have a sister than is one year older than me but we are not close at all. We have always been so much different and have a totally different personality. For example she's a very quiet, shy and insecure person. My personality consist of being very loud, funny outing, and most of the time the most energized person you will ever see. By the way I'm also persian. When I came to america I moved to beverly hills and lived there for 5 years than I moved to Santa Monica.I went to Samohi for high school and right after high school I went to Santa Monica College. When I came to college I really had no idea of what I wanted to major in so I just started taking random class since I thought thats the way I might be able to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I changed my major so many times from biology Chemistry sociology political science and now finally women studies/gender studies. I want to work in the medical field as a physician assistant. This is my 2nd year at Santa Monica college and planning on staying another year to finish most of my science classes for Pa school. I listen to both persian and american music which I really enjoy to do. I know this mind sound weird but I am not really a pet lover. I enjoy seeing them but i don't think I would want to own one since its to much work to care of. Currently I am single and not disappointed at all because i am not a hook up type of person more of a relationship type. And most guys that are around are hook up types.So for now I'd rather be single till i have someone who I truly love. I'm also only into persian guys since I only find them attractive.But anyways yeah this is just a little info about me but not all and for now I feel like its enough for all my fellow classmates.

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Hey guys, My name is Oliver Khorsandi and I am currently a student at SMC in hopes of transferring to UCLA as a Sociology major.

I am definitely excited about this class because science is one of my favorite subjects (Chemistry in particular), so I am interested in expanding my knowledge and getting to understand how Chemistry and Biology work hand in hand.

One of my favorite things to do is to travel. I've been to many different countries around the world, including: Israel, Turkey, Costa Rica, Thailand, Singapore, Aruba, Mexico, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, England, Austria, Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands.

Family is also very important to me. I have two sisters and many, many cousins that I love spending time and traveling with.

I'm looking forward to a great semester!

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Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Eyshi, I just wanted to share a few things about myself. I am originally from Miami Beach, Fl; I moved to LA when I was 12 years old.

I am a second semester student here at SMC.

My educational goal is to become a Registered Nurse. I love nursing because I love helping other people and I think its amazing how one person can change someones life in a hard time.

I also love biology and chemistry, every aspect of it interests me!

In my family I am the oldest and only girl. I have three younger brothers who are 18,13,and 9. (two of them have red hair.) We also all start with the letter J.

Jessica (me), 19

Jonathan,18

Jason, 13

Joel, 9

One other fun fact is that I have a dog, his name is Panda, he is a Terrier mix, and we got him a few months ago. He still needs some training, but he is very cute!

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Hi guys! My name is Dorian Elgrichi and I am in my second year at SMC. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and never want to leave. I am the youngest of 3 and I live with just my parents since my brother is off to college and my sister is married. I went to Beverly Vista for K-12 and BHHS for all of high school. I enjoyed both schools and hope to send my kids there one day as well. I've always been into technology and cars ever since I can remember. I enjoy following car news and staying up to date with the latest features and new bodies car manufactures release. Most of the time I go to look at cars at dealerships, I end up knowing more about the car than the salesman himself. As for my passion for technology, in high school, I joined our TV broadcast station class called KBEV and was the head of the entire production by my senior year. I loved it because it was centered all around technology. After high school, I started working for a photo booth company and after a year of learning the ropes, I ventured off and started my own called "BH PhotoBooth. That as well is centered all around technology between all the computer work and the synchronization of the camera. My plans after SMC are to transfer to USC and major in business for fall 2016. I look forward to a great semester with all of you and lets aim for the A!

The picture I put up is an example of what our shots look like from the photo booth. I'm on the far left.

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Hello everyone, my name is Chun-Ching Kuo but I prefer being

called Gigi, My major is Kinesiology and I have applied to transfer in the fall, mostly to Cal States, because the UC system doesn’t offer my major. My goal is to get into either Cal State Northridge or Long Beach. A little bit about me, I was born in Taiwan, but moved to South Africa when I was 1 years old and lived there for 16 years before moving to Melbourne Australia for 8 years before coming out here. I consider both Bloemfontein (my hometown in South Africa) and Melbourne as my hometowns and still visit Bloemfontein very often. One of my dreams would be, once I have finished Studying to open up my own gym in Melbourne. South Africa isn’t as bad or as dangerous as many people make it out to be, of course some places are dangerous but that’s the same everywhere in the world, we also don’t ride lions to school. The country itself is actually very beautiful and has many things to do and see.  I’m posting a picture that was taken about a year ago, when I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to feed elephants when I was back home

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Hey my name is Shannon and I’m nineteen years old. I graduated from Beverly Hills High School and this is my first semester at Smc. I was born in LA and I have four other siblings. Aside from English I also speak Farsi. Farsi is the main language spoken in my house so I would say that I am pretty fluent in it. I love spending time with my friends and family. I spend most of my time either shopping or watching Netflix. Some of my favorite shows to watch areGreys Anatomy, One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, and Nashville. I also love trying new types of foods. My friends and I have this ritual we do on Wednesday nights where we go eat somewhere that we’ve never heard of or have tried that type of food. If you ever want to try something new I suggest Ethiopian or Indian. I found them to be very different from what I usually eat.

I plan on staying at Smc for two years and pursing a major in Sociology. After Smc I would like to hopefully transfer to UCLA. I’m not sure what I want to do with my major but I know that I would like to work with children. I have always loved working with little kids. I work at a summer camp where I am with little children night and day. I love watching them become their own person and find who they are.

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Hi guys! My name is Shawna Mashian and I'm super excited to be in this bio class this winter because bio has been one of my favorite subjects ever since I took it in my Freshman year of high school. I mostly love bio because I like knowing cool and strange things about my body and its relation to the surrounding environment.

As for me, I am a Freshman at SMC currently in the midst of trying to transfer to USC. My academic goals are to just get the right classes that I need and to try my very best to get As in those classes because transferring is very competitive. Aside from school, my days mostly consist of practicing yoga or pilates, going on hikes with my friends, or watching a concerning amount of Netflix.

Another interest of mine is gardening. I have my own garden at my house that I maintain and harvest daily. My garden has basil, mint, bell peppers, beets, and tomatoes. I also have lemon trees, a pomegranate tree, lavender bushes, and a stubborn mulberry tree (which refuses to grow any fruit). By maintaining a garden, I have grown especially fascinated by the Earth and I have learned how important it is to preserve the Earth's natural beauty. With that said, I have participated in many community service opportunities. I was a long time volunteer at the Ballona Wetlands in Marina Del Rey, where I learned about native and invasive species and helped clean up the Ballona. In addition, I plan to volunteer at LA Green Grounds, a grassroots organization of volunteers dedicated to working with residents of South Los Angeles to convert their front lawns and parkways into edible landscapes and urban farms. Community service has always been a major part of my life and I hope to carry that with me throughout my academic endeavors.

Here's a picture of me atop a huge boulder in the Juniper Flats. This is when my family and I spent a half a day hiking to find the Juniper Flats hot springs, in Apple Valley, CA.

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Hello!

My name is Ruth Ramos and this spring will be my first year at SMC as a Nutritional Science major! Prior to SMC I attended the University of Arizona right after graduating high school and although my time there was cut short due to family reasons I gained a lot from the one semester that I was there. I was the ACT hall council rep which stands for activists coming together focusing on equality and social justice, I volunteered at this nonprofit organization called NARTC that specialized in native American research, as well as being the secretary for a Native American Club called the Tohono O'odham Student Association. My goal at SMC is to transfer to San Diego State University and eventually become a registered dietitian to help others realize that eating healthy can easily be accomplished. I was born and raised in Santa Monica and whenever I would travel I would see different eating habits. Being of Mexican descent I am surrounded by many heavy foods which is why I have an interest in nutrition. I enjoy eating healthy and hope to demonstrate that it is easy. Aside from my interest in eating healthy I LOVE running and have completed marathons. When I am not in school I am a part time bookseller at Barnes and Noble. I enjoy hanging out with all of my wonderful friends, working out (mostly hiking) and also enjoy cooking. I love making different things but I think the most delicious thing I’ve made was an apple pie (according to my boyfriend.) I am very excited for this class and hope to get to know everyone as the class continues!

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This is my first year at SMC and I am extremely nervous yet excited to be here and start my college journey. I am originally from Los Angeles. My favorite sports team is the Thunder. I love to play the piano and am extremely interested in continuing to grow as a musician. I hope to one day become an orthodontist and a real estate developer. I hope to transfer to USC in Fall of 2016. I am really into sports as I enjoy going outside and spending time with friends and getting a little sweat on my face. I'm also "addicted" with the gym it allows me to feel better about myself as a person. Both my parents originated in Iran and moved here about 20 years ago. I now live with them and my siblings. Everyday I am one step closer to my goals

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Hey everyone, my name is Jaya Bouquet. I was born and raised in Venice California. My family is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. My first language is Spanish. I love to travel the world and explore new places. I have been all over South America and my dream is to travel around Europe! This is my first year at SMC and I hope to attend USC in the upcoming year! So far I am enjoying my experience at SMC. I am majoring in Communications and would like to pursue a career in advertisement or social media. After attending USC I would like to travel around Europe for a year before I start my career. If I fall in love with a country while traveling, I might even stay and live there! My hobbies are playing tennis, working out, hanging out with friends, and going to the beach. I live walking distance from the beach so I am always there!

Biology has always interested me so I hope to learn a lot this semester in Biology!

I am posting a picture of the beach in Los Cabos, Mexico. This was the last place I visited since the semester has started! The beach was beautiful and the water was very warm!

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About me: I am 19 years old, and I was born in Los Angeles, California. This is my second year at SMC, and I am an Accounting major. I applied to CSUN's accounting program, and I am planing on receiving a B.S Degree from there. My end goal is to be a CPA. People tell me that accountants have boring jobs, which include sitting at a desk for hours, starring at a computer screen, but I don't mind that kind of job at all. I like the repetition, which makes the job easier, in my opinion.

I am obviously not a science major, so this is an IGETC Requirement. I choose this subject over the other classes because I like Biology more than the other subjects listed. It is an interesting subject, and I'd like to learn it in a college level environment.

In my free time, I like to run, explore different genres and songs, and hang out with my friends- I can't live without them.

I am looking forward to an amazing semester with my classmates and professor!

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Hi class!! My name is Brittney Ghadoushi and this is my first year at SMC. I went to Pali High for high school and loved it. SMC wasn’t my first choice, considering that I took the hard path in high school by taking many AP’s and doing extracurricular activities to make my application look impressive, but after rejecting the schools I got into and giving SMC a chance, I’ve begun to actually like it more that I would have thought. I am hoping to transfer to UCLA in 1 year (yes it’s possible because of the credits I got from my AP classes) and am hoping to go to law school afterwards. I am a really loud and talkative person once I get to know you; all my friends tend to “shhh” me when I’m talking because they think I’m too loud. Talking out loud when I’m studying is how I learn because hearing my own voice repeat the material is beneficial. During senior year, I won most stressed in our yearbook in the senior superlative section. I love to exercise; I was on the track and field team in high school. I speak 4 languages: English, Farsi, Spanish and Hebrew. People tend to spot me from far away because of my big curly hair. I can honestly say that I think I am one of the last 18 year olds I know to get their license; I got mine a week ago. Fun fact: Adam Levine paused during one of his concerts, embarked on a conversation with me (I got on the jumbo screen) and then gave me his guitar right after during his Maroon 5 concert. I then met him a week later and he remembered me and the poster I made.

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Hey there! I am currently in my second year at SMC and have applied for several schools involving music production and industry. I love to create music using software such as Studio One and FL Studio. In my hometown of Redondo Beach, CA, I acted in theater and I even had the amazing opportunity of directing a play. I am Mexican/ Basque/Argentinian and I speak both English and Spanish.

I enjoy volunteering at the LA Mission by providing food and care for the homeless. I really enjoy helping people in need because I feel like am making a positive impact on the world.

When it comes to music, I frequent the Low End Theory which is an 18+ Hip Hop club on Wednesdays. I try to see all genres of musical acts, and I have been lucky enough to meet Bob Dylan. I also love nature, so taking a hike or camping in a new place is very exciting for me. I'm also very invested in the political scene, and I am a volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign.

Want to make music, go on an adventure, or just meet a new friend? Let me know! I'd like to think I'm pretty open-minded and enjoyable to be around.

I was Nick Bottom in a Midsummer Night's Dream

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Hi guys! My name is Dalia. I am a first-year student at SMC. I am hoping to transfer to a UC next fall (hopefully UCLA) as a Sociology major. I am not exactly sure what I plan to do in the future with a career, but I hope to find out in the coming years.

I live in Brentwood and I love spending time with my family and friends. I really love to workout and go on hikes at Temescal Canyon in the Palisades. I also really love to try different foods from different cultures all the time and go to different restaurants with my friends. I just got to visit Europe this summer, which allowed me to try different cuisines like Italian, French, German, etc. I would have to say that Italian food is my favorite, though.

Another thing about me is that my parents are from Iran, so I grew up learning Farsi as my first language.

I don't particularly love the sciences, but I am excited to take this class and challenge myself.

Here is a picture of my friend and me on our trip this summer in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower!

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Hey everyone, my name is Sapir Hassid and am currently completing my second year at SMC and have applied to several UC colleges for next year, my top college being UCLA to study Sociology. What I enjoy about SMC is that it requires one to take a variety of subjects in order for one to find what their true passion is. The last time I took a class with a lab was in the 8th grade so I am looking forward to the experiments planned for the upcoming class meetings. Something about me is that I am bilingual, speaking both english and hebrew. Both my parents were born in Israel therefore the household language that we spoke was hebrew. For the past several years I have been traveling and spending my summers in Israel, I truly enjoy going there since majority of my extended family is located there. This summer I traveled with a group called birthright and they took us around all of Israel while being accompanied by 8 soldiers, having the soldiers experience the trips with us really put the typical Israeli life into perspective because of the contrast of their life compared to us americans. At the age of 18 they are drafted into the army to fend for their country whereas the biggest worry for a typical american at the age of 18 is if the college of their dream will accept them.

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Hi there! I'm really looking forward to spending time with you this winter!

A little bit about me: I was born and raised in Brazil, and there I majored in Forestry and completed my master's degree in environmental management.

In 2007, I moved from Brazil to Boston for my PhD in Biology. I worked with changes in carbon flux and storage in New England forests under the intervention of an invasive pest. I am extremely interested in ecosystem ecology and conservation biology and loved looking at how forests are such an incredible tool to mitigate climate change.

I started teaching when working on my masters and fell in love with it! I feel honored and grateful to work with something I so passionately believe in!

In relation to hobbies, I should say that I love to cook. Nothing fancy, mostly comfort (Brazilian) food. Not only do I love to cook, I also love to eat and explore different cuisines from around the world. In exchange for appreciating food so much, I've done a couple of half marathons and a Ragnar Race. You can say I run for food.

You may have noticed that I haven't been running much lately. Trust me, I tried to and it felt like I had a bouncing bowling ball inside me. :o/ But hey, turns out it's NOT a bowling ball; it's a baby! Little baby Raymer should be showing up around the end of April. For now, I have entertained myself watching random people guess the gender based on the shape of my belly.

I'm posting a picture of my husband and I taken last year at Zion National Park. This is the Overlook Trail, with its gorgeous view along the 3-hour uphill hike.

I'm excited to hear from you now!