Fall — 2006

Jonathan Michaeli

Business/Associated Students Director of Financial Support

“This has been the most exciting time of my life. When I first got to SMC, it was just all about my GPA. But when I got involved, I really started feeling so much more alive and fulfilled.”

When the phone rang at 10 p.m., Jonathan Michaeli reported he was just getting out of class. “Yeah, I’m taking Italian 2 with Mr. Trombetta, who’s a lot of fun. I needed two years of language courses to transfer to UC Berkeley. I speak Farsi, English, a little Hebrew, and I had Spanish in high school. So I thought I’d just challenge myself with some Italian. I mean,” he adds laughing, “I’m all over the place!”

Now in his third year, Jonathan admits, “The reason I came to SMC was that I really didn’t feel I was mature enough to handle the UC system. I could have done a lot better in high school, but studying wasn’t a priority. And it has to be if you want to get anywhere in life.” And as Jonathan made being a student his number one priority, the pieces of success with the SMC ‘puzzle’ began to slide into place. “I started with a couple of student clubs, became the VP of the Scholars’ Club, and then went on to join the AS, where I’m now Director of Financial Support. I plan meetings, organize events, and I really get a kick out of directing these sorts of professional things.”

It’s Jonathan’s plan to get his bachelor’s in Business “and then go on to get my MBA and JD in a dual program. SMC helped me get an internship last year with a local law firm dealing with really big companies, and the kind of work they were doing was very inspirational and informative. And I tell you,” he adds. “I’d have to say that these years at SMC have been the best time of my life. Looking for challenge, taking the risks, and joining all those clubs have all paid off for me. Sometimes the strains meant a lot of sacrifice. But I enjoyed every moment of being involved at this college.”

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