Finding Her Voice
When Ivy Ng arrived at Santa Monica College from her hometown of Machala, Ecuador, she found not just a fresh start, but also a sense of belonging.
Born to Chinese immigrants, Ivy speaks Spanish and English, as well as the Mandarin and Teochew languages of her family’s native country. Still, she worried her accent might keep her from connecting. Instead, it became her strength and a bridge to others. “At SMC, everyone cares,” she says.
Wanting to be heard, Ivy majored in communication studies. She dove into public speaking, placed second in a campus-wide speech tournament, and became a peer mentor helping other international students find their voices.
Even before classes began, Ivy was building community. She created a WeChat group for Mandarin-speaking students to help them navigate life at SMC. It now supports nearly 150 members — a testament to her instinct for connection.
“She’s always reaching out to students on the fringes, drawing them in and helping them feel welcome,” observes Denise Kinsella, SMC associate dean for international education.
Ivy’s next goal is transferring to a Bachelor’s program in communication. She’s already been accepted to UCLA and UC Berkeley, but hopes to attend her dream school — USC — to study brand management and content creation, and tell stories that reflect the beauty of difference. “I want others to know that being different is not a weakness, but a strength,” she says.
SMC helped her become fearless, Ivy adds. “Coming here gave me the courage to take every opportunity.” She urges people to own their stories — and use them to uplift others.