Student Spotlight - Kien Bui

Tell us a little bit about yourself
My name is Kien Bui, I am an international student from Vietnam. I have been here since Summer 2014 and I earned my Associate’s Degree in business administration at the end of Winter quarter 2015. Studying abroad in the United States of America has always been my dream since I was really young, as the U.S provides one of the best educations in the world, and because of the vast number of outstanding and unforgettable experiences in and out of school campus.

Why did you choose EvCC?
There are different reasons why I would recommend studying at EvCC. At EvCC, the  instructors and staff are extremely friendly and are experts in their field. Also, the class sizes are pretty small, which benefits students, especially International students, giving them more chances to actively interact and communicate with the instructors; as a result, it helps students a lot in understanding class material and advancing and applying the valuable knowledge into real life situations. Additionally, there are many volunteer and job opportunities for international students to experience, learn, and actually earn money during the study quarter. The lively experience, together with the diversity in population and culture, play a significant part in developing students’ potential and preparing for a future career. Everett Community College is much more like a second family to me.

What are you studying at EvCC?
The fortune to partake in the business program at EvCC has been a life-changing experience for me because I have learned and absorbed so much interesting knowledge and essential skills that I believe will go along with me for the rest of my life.

What have been the biggest challenges you've faced as an international student?
As an international student at EvCC, I would say that the language barrier is the thing that challenges my progress the most.

How have you overcome these challenges?
Following advice from my instructors and advisers, I sought as many opportunities to practice English as I could. The more I went out, the more opportunities I had to communicate with a lot of amazing people. Eventually I learned from listening to their stories. After hours and hours of practicing, meeting with my International Club and occasional talks with friendly advisers and instructors, my English has improved and sharpened a lot.

Why did you decide to get involved as a student ambassador?
I also had the fortune to join a number of volunteering committees, where I could directly partake in lending a hand to new students as they get used to our wonderful campus through the international students’ orientation as an international ambassador. I really appreciated this golden opportunity as it brought me chances to practice English, to interact with different people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and to make new friends from all around the world.

Do you like working as a tutor?
As a tutor, I always tried to give people a helpful hand, giving them the most concise instruction by reviewing the materials and breaking down the steps to solve. I have learned from my role as a tutor to be brief, sociable, creative, and take responsibility. Additionally, it also benefits my academic performance and problem solving skills – reviewing and strengthening the knowledge I already have.

What do you plan to do next?
My plan is to transfer to a 4-year university to achieve my bachelor’s degree in finance.

Who has helped you succeed at EvCC?
I would love to use this opportunity to offer my great and special thanks to all my dear instructors, especially Bill Reed (Accounting), Mike Story (Math),  Lobna Mazzawi (Math), all of my beloved international advisers (Visakhan Ganeson, Rebbeca Garate, Minjung Olfert, Marla Tembreull and Adja Fame), my well-respected academic advisers (Chad Lewis and Marie Boyd), Debbie Newbury (my supervisor at tutoring center), Jeff Iannone (my supervisor at the E-learning department), the StudentLIFE officers, School Senators, and last but not least, all my supportive friends at Everett Community College. I would not be who I am today without your great help and advice.

Describe the best experience you had at EvCC
The memory that I can hardly forget at EvCC would be winning the Club of the Year award at the student banquet during my presidency at the International Club. Words hardly describe how happy I am, as it reflects my effort and dedication to the club and school activities

What advice do you have for new students, particularly those coming from other countries?
My advice for new students is that hard work will pay off and there is no such thing as a stupid question - just an intelligent person seeking information.