In a new episode of International Student Stories, Dr. Khan shares how persistence, community, and education transformed her path—and why Los Angeles City College can be a powerful place to begin yours.

A podcast residency presented by Study in the USA in partnership with Los Angeles City College Hosted by Soleil Perrin. What happens when your educational journey does not follow the timeline you expected? For Dr. Sobia Khan, the answer is a life shaped by persistence, possibility, and the decision to keep moving forward—even when the next step was not yet clear.

Dr. Khan came to the United States from Pakistan as a young international student, wife, and mother. She had three children, no extended family nearby, and limited resources. She attended night classes, exchanged childcare with a friend, and spent ten years earning her bachelor’s degree. That beginning eventually led to a master’s degree, a PhD, a career as an English professor, and leadership positions at community colleges across the country. Today, she serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles City College (LACC).

In the newest episode of International Student Stories, host Soleil Perrin speaks with Dr. Khan about growing up in Pakistan, finding freedom in books and writing, building a life in the United States, and discovering a path to leadership she could not have imagined at age 18. Their conversation is an honest reminder for prospective international students: your journey does not need to look like anyone else’s to become meaningful.

Beginning again as an international student

Education had always been central to Dr. Khan’s life. Growing up in Karachi, she found escape and possibility in books. She read constantly, began writing stories at a young age, and learned to use language to question the world around her. When she arrived in the United States after marrying at 18, she knew that education still needed to be part of her future.

Her path was anything but simple. After becoming a mother, Dr. Khan balanced family responsibilities with part-time study. Online classes were not widely available, and childcare was expensive, so she and a friend watched each other’s children while taking turns attending school. Her husband returned home from work as she left for night classes. Progress came slowly, one course at a time.

Dr. Khan also remembers how isolating it could feel to be both an international student and a parenting student. She often relied on academic advisors to tell her which courses to take and had little time to explore careers or campus activities. Yet college also introduced her to people from cultures and communities different from her own. The friendships she formed, the stereotypes she unlearned, and the sense of connection she discovered became some of the most transformative parts of studying in the United States.

Finding a voice—and a future—through education

After earning her bachelor’s degree in English, Dr. Khan received funding for graduate study through a teaching assistantship. She completed her master’s degree and PhD, became an English professor, and discovered that teaching could combine her love of literature with her belief in education as a force for change.

Her career continued to grow because she kept raising her hand. When leadership opportunities appeared, she stepped forward—even when doing so meant moving away from home or entering a role she had never pictured for herself. She became a dean at San Antonio College, a provost at Valencia College, and later Vice President of Academic Affairs at LACC.

Her story speaks directly to students who worry that they are behind, starting over, or taking a different route from their peers. Dr. Khan’s journey did not move in a straight line, but each stage prepared her for the next. As she explains in the episode, students have to take an active role in building their futures: look for opportunities, ask questions, seek support, and be willing to step forward when a door opens.

Why begin your U.S. education at a community college?

Dr. Khan has chosen to build her career in community colleges because she believes deeply in their promise: students from many backgrounds can enter, receive support, build their skills, and move toward a degree, career, or university transfer.

For an international student, beginning at a community college can offer a more personal introduction to the U.S. education system. Dr. Khan highlights smaller classes, hands-on learning, professors who can get to know their students, and access to academic resources at a lower cost than many four-year universities. Community colleges can also give students time to adjust to a new academic culture, strengthen their English, explore subjects, and prepare to transfer.

A close-knit international community at LACC

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles City College offers more than 100 academic, career, and vocational programs within one of the world’s most internationally recognized cities. For students arriving from another country, however, the most important feature may be the people who help make an unfamiliar place feel welcoming.

In the podcast, Dr. Khan describes LACC’s international student community as close-knit and supported by staff members who know their students. The International Student Program provides academic counseling and F-1 advising, while LACC’s international and transfer counselors help students plan pathways to four-year universities. Dr. Khan says the goal is to support students not only when they arrive, but also as they prepare for their next step.

Studying at LACC also means learning in Los Angeles—a global city where languages, cultures, industries, and creative communities meet. For an international student, that diversity can turn everyday life into part of the education: an opportunity to encounter new perspectives, build friendships across cultures, and begin forming a community in the United States.

Start your journey at Los Angeles City College

You do not need to have every step of your future planned before you begin. You need a place to start, people who will help you understand your options, and the willingness to keep moving forward. At LACC, international students can explore programs, receive specialized advising, prepare for university transfer, and build their future in Los Angeles.

Explore the LACC International Student Program or apply as an F-1 international student.

Listen to Dr. Sobia Khan’s story

Dr. Khan’s full conversation with Soleil Perrin explores belonging, persistence, community colleges, leadership, literature, and the unexpected ways education can transform not only one person, but an entire family across generations.

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