Student Success Stories

Zanqun (Carrie) Qi

There are many challenges for a new immigrant to the United States. Among them, Language is a big hurdle. So when I first settled down, I signed up for an English course and started more than a year of basic learning in an adult school. With the help of College of San Mateo’ transition coordinator Kailani, I successfully applied for the 2024 fall ESL pronunciation course at the College of San Mateo.

This year I have been in the 827 writing course and I plan to complete all levels of ESL courses on the college’s campus and then plan to take a Pilates instructor certificate and study business management. This makes me look forward to the new future. No matter how old we are now and where we come from, we should never give up learning. Learning a language can help us integrate into the United States faster and have a skill, especially the College of San Mateo providing such a rare educational opportunity. I am grateful.

Evgeniia Ananina

Two years ago, I moved to California and lived in a walk-in closet — just me, a mattress, and a little mouse who, unfortunately, didn’t help pay the rent but kept me cheerful company. As a new immigrant from Russia, I started from absolute zero: a new country, a new language, a completely different world. I enrolled at San Mateo Adult School looking for stability — and that’s where my journey truly began. Thanks to the support and kindness I found there, I started to believe in myself and got the opportunity to continue my education at the College of San Mateo. 

I proudly serve on the Student Council at San Mateo Adult School — the place where everything started for me. Thanks to the support I received there, I was able to continue my education at the College of San Mateo, where I’m now studying graphic design. A dream I once thought impossible is slowly becoming reality — I’m becoming a graphic designer.

This year, I was honored to represent students as a speaker at a national education conference in Dallas — something I never imagined when I first arrived in the U.S. I was also selected as a winner and top 6 finalist in the Inspire Oakland 2025 competition, organized by BRIDGEGOOD, out of over 1,500 participants. My design will soon appear on a public billboard in Oakland — a symbol of resilience, creativity, and community pride.

It all started with a closet, a mattress, and a mouse. Now it’s college, student council, conferences, and billboards. Life can be surprising — all you need is to give yourself a chance, even when everything feels impossible.

Wei Deng

I was born and raised in China, where I also completed my university education. I’ve been a professional writer in Chinese for many years. Due to my work, I moved to the United States and suddenly found myself outside of the language and cultural environment I was so familiar with. I realized that, despite my ability to think deeply and write creatively, the language barrier was severely limiting my ability to express myself and connect with others. That’s when I decided to enroll in an adult school to begin learning English—with the goal of rebuilding my communication skills and professional abilities in this new environment.

After building a solid foundation, I chose to continue my education at College of San Mateo. Through writing courses at CSM, I was able to quickly improve my grammar and structure in English. But I also became more aware of the areas I still struggled with—especially communication and vocabulary. It became clear that writing alone wasn’t enough; I needed to strengthen my speaking skills and ability to engage in real conversations.

Although the learning process has been full of challenges, it has also brought me a deep sense of achievement and motivation. Every time I understand a new concept or express an idea clearly in English, it feels like a meaningful step forward. I’m especially grateful to Ms. Kailani Bowers at CSM. She helped me navigate the registration and enrollment process, and more importantly, she gave me emotional support and encouragement during times of uncertainty and pressure. Her kindness made a lasting impact.

Right now, I’m focused on improving my spoken English and communication skills. I hope to continue expanding my language abilities so that one day I can express complex ideas fluently in both English and Chinese, and build bridges between cultures through storytelling. I’m also excited to explore other subjects that interest me—such as art appreciation, psychology, philosophy, and digital media. In order to pursue these courses with confidence, I’m working hard to improve my English every day.

To any adult student who may be unsure about going to college, I’d say this: don’t be afraid to begin. You may feel that your English isn’t strong enough, or that you don’t have enough time—but just taking that first step into a college classroom can change your life. CSM provides a welcoming, diverse, and supportive environment that encourages growth. As long as you’re willing to try, you’ll find your own path and sense of accomplishment here.

Vivian Alzate

I decided to get my GED at San Mateo Adult School and continue studying at CSM because I was inspired to become a physical therapist (PT). Why PT? I have done PT for many years and I realized that my vocation is to help people to recover from a surgery, trauma or any condition that has affected their mobility. My professors and staff from Adult School and CSM, and my family helped me to be engaged and inspired to enhance my English skills at CSM after getting my GED. Also, they supported me to be focused on my path despite the great challenges that I have been faced in my life. My experience at CSM as an ESL student impacted me positively in many aspects, such as amazing professors who are very patient and creative to teach this English as my second language; also my counselor, Kailani, has played a supportive role by giving me orientation in everything that I needed. Furthermore, meeting new people from many different countries has been very important to me because I can improve my speaking and listening skills. Last but not least is the scholarships programs that CSM has for students to achieve their most important goals. Thanks to everyone that has been supportive to adults who want to accomplish their personal goals, and for those who are on their path to become successful, please do not hesitate to ask for help. Keep going because your efforts will pay off as soon as possible !!!