First-Year From Abroad: Amin Mayghani
Interview with the World Views Editor
Brian Karimi
Issue date: 5/28/09 Section: World Views
Amin Meyghani is an Iranian student here at Union. He is complementing his major in computer engineering with a minor in nanotechnology and is a member of the freshman class. Amin studied for two years at Alborz high school in Tehran, Iran. Amin was the first student from his high school to get a scholarship to the United World College of Hong Kong after the Iranian Revolution. Usually the recipients of this scholarship are older (23-24 years old) and enrolled in a university. He then studied for two years at the United World College of Hong Kong. There he was one of two recipients of the Davis Scholarship, a recognition among all students studying at the United World Colleges (there are thirteen across the world). The Davis Scholarship, in conjunction with a scholarship from Union, provides Amin with a full scholarship for his four years here at Union.
Brian: What are some of the differences between Alborz high school, the United World College of Hong Kong, and Union College?
Amin: The curriculum became tougher in Hong Kong. The IB (International Baccalaureate) program I was in stressed service. There was a focus on bringing peoples of the world together. Clubs, unlike here at Union, were mandatory. There was another focus on developing individuals and their different facets. Teachers feel the responsibility of education students to a great extent, like a caring mother. Unfortunately, because of the old educational system, teachers have to stick to methods that are less creative.
Brian: I'm also Iranian, and my father always mentions how high school in Iran made him a very tough student. Would say that studying in Iran made you tougher student?
Amin: Yes, studying in Iran makes you a tough student, especially when studying and learning math and science. There were eight classes in math and science and two in the social sciences. But people would sometimes look down on those who took classes in the social sciences, which is not the purpose of education. There was more emphasis on the social sciences in Hong Kong. There was a general education program in Hong Kong, like here at Union. But there was no general education program in Iran. I took Persian and English in Hong Kong and we wrote analytical essays, but in Iran we seldom wrote analytical essays.
Brian: What are some of the differences between Alborz high school, the United World College of Hong Kong, and Union College?
Amin: The curriculum became tougher in Hong Kong. The IB (International Baccalaureate) program I was in stressed service. There was a focus on bringing peoples of the world together. Clubs, unlike here at Union, were mandatory. There was another focus on developing individuals and their different facets. Teachers feel the responsibility of education students to a great extent, like a caring mother. Unfortunately, because of the old educational system, teachers have to stick to methods that are less creative.
Brian: I'm also Iranian, and my father always mentions how high school in Iran made him a very tough student. Would say that studying in Iran made you tougher student?
Amin: Yes, studying in Iran makes you a tough student, especially when studying and learning math and science. There were eight classes in math and science and two in the social sciences. But people would sometimes look down on those who took classes in the social sciences, which is not the purpose of education. There was more emphasis on the social sciences in Hong Kong. There was a general education program in Hong Kong, like here at Union. But there was no general education program in Iran. I took Persian and English in Hong Kong and we wrote analytical essays, but in Iran we seldom wrote analytical essays.
Be the first to comment on this story