Dalia Mikhaiel

Student

“There are wonderful programs and scholarships available to everyone at SMC. But you can’t be lazy: You’ve got to do the paperwork.”

There is one piece of paperwork that Dalia Mikhaiel doesn’t feel bad about avoiding. It’s a certain test given in her native Egypt, which she and her family left eleven years ago. “In Egypt, you are forced to choose goals, and you are given a single test. And this tells you whether you’re going to be a doctor or a waitress or a streetsweeper. One test to tell you what your whole direction in life will be!” says Dalia in disbelief. But fortunately, since the ripe old age of 16, Dalia has been directing her own life—fulfillingly—at SMC.

“I started here when I was still in Santa Monica High School, because I wanted to get into college really quickly,” she reports. “It’s hard work at SMC, but I’ve taken a lot of Psychology classes that I’ve really enjoyed, because the professors here are the best. Dr. Driscoll, Mrs. Spain, and Dr. Gunn are tremendous. But the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met is Nancy Hanson at the Learning Disabilities Center. I took a course with her about how to get organized, to develop strategies to help you become a master student and get the most out of college. Anyone can take these classes, and I totally recommend them,” says Dalia.

A visit to Egypt to see family in 1995 left Dalia feeling wistful about her former country – and very positive about her new one. “A lot of Christians are being put down in Egypt, and the political situation can get very tense,” she says. “I hope that someday it will be more like an American democracy. But I’m just very glad that my family has moved here so successfully.”

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