丁香园AV

As the son of two surgeons, Kiavash Kazerooni has always wanted to be a doctor. While growing up in Iran, he and his younger brother would occasionally join their parents at work, where he鈥檇 get the chance to watch them in action.

鈥淭he babysitter could not control us,鈥� he laughs, 鈥渟o that鈥檚 why I was brought to the surgery.鈥�

Today, Kiavash is working toward his dream medical career. The 19-year-old recently completed the English Language and Culture Program (ELC) and is now attending Fraser International College to prepare for admission into 丁香园AV.

鈥淚 want to join Doctors Without Borders,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 want to work on a medical team and go where there is a national disaster or epidemic, or wherever I鈥檓 needed most.鈥�

Caring for others seems to be in his blood. Kiavash originally left Iran for Vancouver to look after his brother, who is enrolled at a local high school. 鈥淚 was very happy to come because I wanted to learn about new cultures,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淗ere it鈥檚 very different from my country and the Middle East.鈥�

Because Kiavash had studied at American College in Dubai, he had already been practising his English before he arrived in Canada. But thanks to his time at ELC, he鈥檚 gained more confidence in his language skills, as well as in his understanding of North American culture.

While he learned about topics like Canada鈥檚 systems of government, his immersion in Canadian culture also extended to discovering the lighter side of life in this country鈥攕uch as outings to Tim Hortons. His coffee of choice? 鈥淚 really like French vanilla!鈥� he says. 鈥淚 even told my friends in Dubai about it.鈥�

In chatting with Kiavash, it鈥檚 clear that one of his favourite English phrases has become 鈥渨hy not?鈥濃�攈is standard response to any new opportunity. Game for anything, he joined almost every social event offered at ELC. He says he appreciates the effort that ELC student support assistant Tracy Lim put into organizing a wide range of activities for all the students.

He also enjoyed Tracy鈥檚 drop-in Conversation Clubs, which brought students together to practice their English skills. 鈥淲e had discussions about life, and things like that. It鈥檚 cool. Tracy does that because she wants us to meet new friends.鈥�

It worked, he adds: 鈥淚鈥檝e found a lot of friends.鈥� During his time at ELC, he joined numerous activities ranging from going to movies, cycling and swimming, to playing paintball, basketball and soccer. But Kiavash laughs and shakes his head when he remembers those classmates who weren鈥檛 quite as energetic.

鈥淪ome of the students sleep more than 14 hours鈥攊t鈥檚 like magic. How is this possible? Before it鈥檚 your time, you need to live!鈥�

Kiavash certainly seems to be doing just that.