Ronny Janfaza

Student

“People should join the clubs here because they help you to know the school and other students. And it also looks good when you apply for transfer.”

Ronny Janfaza has some very definite ambitions for his future. “I’d like to practice law here as well as in Israel and then go on to become a judge. But I’m also thinking of becoming a doctor as well as an attorney,” he says. “I’ve got an uncle who’s doing both, and I just feel that if he can do it, I can do it too.” With the potential of looking at that many years of study before him, it’s no wonder Ronny has become a bit of an expert on how to get the most out of SMC.

“There are so many programs here that people never take advantage of,” he says. “There are counseling programs for every class and for making your degree plans. There are programs for disabled people or even those who just have a temporary medical problem. You can get financial aid, priority scheduling, and tutoring in subjects that you’re struggling with,” he continues. “But you have to be willing to ask for the help if you want to use all of the resources the college has.”

Ronny points out that understanding teachers and their personal situations can also be invaluable. “You have to get into their heads and see what they’re thinking and feeling. With the right teachers—those you can get to know—you’ll get As. When you get the wrong teacher, nothing seems to work.”

Ronny is a Persian with an Israeli mother who enjoys experiencing the best of several cultures. “I go to Israel to visit whenever I can and I love it there,” he says. “There’s a great number of Jewish students from all over the world at SMC and I meet a lot of them in my Hebrew courses,” he says. “I’m actually getting pretty good at the language now, and that helps me with my praying. At last,” he says with a laugh, “I’m beginning to understand what I’m saying in my prayers.” And one of those prayers might be what Ronny forecasts for his educational future: “SMC to USC to Harvard.” That sounds good in any language.

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