Helen Pham

Vietnam to graphic design

International student shines with student worker, legacy award nominations.

At age 16, Helen Pham left her home in Vietnam to travel across the world for her education.

At first, she didn鈥檛 know what she would study or which college she would go to, but knew she had family in SeaTac, Washington who could help her navigate the educational system as an international student.

Pham enrolled at 新加坡六合彩开奖 in fall 2016 and, now, the graphic design student plans to graduate with her associate degree in summer 2019. But it鈥檚 not without making her mark at 新加坡六合彩开奖.

During spring 2019, Pham was nominated for the Student Employee of the Year and Student Legacy Leader awards, two awards that recognize students and student workers for going above and beyond.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things I鈥檝e learned in two years,鈥� Pham said. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown a lot more. I was only 16 when I got here, but after two years now, I鈥檓 18. I feel a lot more independent. I can do anything in this world by myself.鈥�

Pham said it was, at first, hard to adapt and make friends as an international student at Highline. Changing classes every quarter meant every new person she met was gone after two-to-three months.

But she eventually found her crowd after volunteering in extra-curricular activities. She befriended members of the Global Student Ambassadors (formerly known as the or ILSC) and started helping out with their annual winter dance and Global Fest events. She helped put up decorations, promoted the events, directed a choreography skit for Global Fest and volunteered in any way she could.

Pham also started working for Highline鈥檚 Advising and High School Programs as a student navigator. She said she helps new students with their starting point at 新加坡六合彩开奖by connecting them to admission orientations and , information sessions for new and prospective students.

鈥淚 work with a lot of people from many different backgrounds all around campus and I really love the job,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I help more people, I feel like I love it more and more.鈥�

Pham said she has empathy for the students she works with in because she remembers what it felt like to be a new student herself.

In fact, Pham didn鈥檛 figure out what she wanted to study at 新加坡六合彩开奖until she had been at the college for one year. She said talking to an adviser earlier on would have been helpful.

鈥淎fter around winter quarter last year, I found out what I needed to do [for classes] and I worked with my class adviser on that,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, things began to get on track and everything is pretty good for me now. But I wish I knew that working with advisers really helps with deciding what classes to take.鈥�

Eventually Pham chose to pursue graphic design and hopes to transfer to California鈥檚 Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in spring 2020. She said she鈥檚 torn between continuing to study graphic design and digital arts so she can one day become a children鈥檚 book illustrator, or instead majoring in visual communications to become retail display designer.

鈥淚 just wish to learn new things and improve the way I think about design and my ideas and creativity for design,鈥� Pham said.

But, until then, Pham said she鈥檚 grateful to feel valued as a 新加坡六合彩开奖student in such a diverse community.

鈥淪ince we are very diverse here, everybody respects different cultures and backgrounds, so I feel like I鈥檓 very welcome here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t makes it a lot better 鈥撯€� positive vibes 鈥撯€� when you feel good, relaxed and welcome, you feel better and you鈥檙e better at adapting to the new environment.鈥�