Merwa Hamid’s parents always impressed upon her and her siblings the importance of education. So, it’s not surprising that she, along with her five brothers and sister all did well in high school and then headed to college.
But what is unique is that all seven attended Santiago Canyon College and were so involved in campus clubs and Associated Students Government that the entire family is still well-known throughout the SCC community.
Today, Hamid, 23, is a recent biology major graduate of UC Irvine, where she transferred from SCC.
Born in Afghanistan, she came to America with her family when she was 9. Her father had been a businessman and mayor of a city in Afghanistan and had to start his life over in the U.S. The family first settled in Riverside County then moved to Orange County, where her father began to build a new small business.
When Hamid’s older brother Nizam started at SCC and shared his enthusiasm about the college with his family each day, “we all followed his lead,” Hamid said.
One after the other, the siblings graduated high school and started their college studies at SCC.
Finding a home
Soon, the campus became a familiar place for the entire family.
“The opportunity for my siblings and I to attend college together really sweetened our experience,” Hamid said. “Being involved in different clubs and organizations really diversified our involvement. The interconnection between our professors facilitated a sense of community — my instructors knew my siblings through me, and vice versa.”
The SCC community welcomed the Hamid family. “It was just such a friendly environment, and it’s so easy to get along with everybody,” Hamid said. “The resources they have for first-generation and immigrant students helped us so much and are instrumental to so many students’ academic journeys. It is a school that wants students to succeed.”
To attend college with her sister and brothers was a joy. “For me, being in a school…
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