“Leaving home to attend Pepperdine was challenging. I arrived alone, not knowing anyone, and felt quite isolated at first,” said Simon Khorani. “But once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I began to thrive—and Pepperdine has been my home ever since.”
Khorani descends from Northern Iraq and identifies as Chaldean, an ethnic Christian group in Kurdistan with a language derived from Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus. Growing up Khorani was immersed in a diverse cultural environment and attended an international school where he learned English alongside Arabic, Kurdish, and Chaldean. As a top student in his class, Khorani had numerous options for higher education. He was always interested in studying abroad and initially considered universities in the UK or Australia. However, he ultimately applied to universities in the United States and chose Pepperdine for its generous and prestigious Blanche E. Seaver Scholarship and its strong Christian values.
“What drew me to Pepperdine was the Christian atmosphere and the beautiful Malibu landscape, which felt worlds apart from what I was used to,” shared Khorani. “I knew I was stepping into a completely new environment, with plenty of temptations and experiences I’d never encountered before. Being at a Christian university felt like something that would ground me while also giving me a chance to grow in my faith as I pursued my education.”
Khorani is one of many international students at Pepperdine who has fully embraced the University’s culture and become an invaluable part of the community. International students make up a significant portion of Pepperdine’s student population—10 percent from more than 80 countries, double the national average. At Seaver College, 11 percent of the student body is made up of international students who bring diverse global perspectives to the University’s campus and academic life.
Initially, Khorani’s transition to the US was challenging; he arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigated campus life alone, and faced a tough adjustment period. However, he decided to step out of his comfort zone, joined [Psi Upsilon] fraternity, and became active in campus life. He eventually became philanthropy chair for his fraternity, organizing a large charity event, and contributed to academic research on Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease, with potential publications still ahead.
“It’s important for students to know they can still excel academically while also embracing the multitude of programs and opportunities available to them at Pepperdine,” he explains.
