 "Photo: Ted Copeland/The Olympian")
As an employee of the international student office, a key figure with the international student newsletter and president of the international student club, Olympic College student Rut Montero has ingrained herself in campus affairs.
Montero, 19, hails from Lima, Peru. A student of OC for less than two years, Montero began her tenure at the international student office in May of 2008.
Native to the Spanish tongue and fluent in English, Montero is currently enrolled in an OC French class.
“While I was in high school I studied three years of English,” said Montero. “I have family here, my aunt studied at OC. She recommended me to study here.”
Once a month, Montero compiles the international student newsletter. Content includes articles written by Montero and other international students as well as information on upcoming events for international students, birthdays and write-ups of recent international student events.
“It has helped me to develop more writing skills,” said Montero. “I’m not a writer but I have learned to make goals and put things together so the newsletter looks nice.”
Parallel to her work with the newsletter, Montero takes part in a number of tasks for the international student office. According to Montero, her job entails issuing student identification numbers, answering student questions and helping the international student coordinator plan and execute events.
“It has been a great experience,” said Montero. “When I started I didn’t have very good English skills. It has helped me a lot with how to have customer service.”
As the current president of the International Student Club, Montero aims to help other foreign OC attendees acclimate to life in a new country.
“Our purpose is to our students with their transition here in America,” said Montero. “It was hard for me in the beginning. We try to make activities for them and with that, they can know more of the American culture and get a little independent.”
Activities in the club have included multiple trips to Seattle, a visit to the Microsoft visitor’s center in Edmonds and a recent stop at Pacific Lutheran University for their international night.
According to Montero, community outreach is promoted in the international student club. A park cleaning event is currently being organized.
Montero is in the process of finishing the prerequisite work for the nursing program, which she hopes to enter next fall quarter. With an end goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Montero is contemplating completing the additional education at OC.
Upon finishing with her educational goals, Montero is expected to return to Peru.
“I would like to go to Peru to help people,” said Montero. “They really need healthcare.”
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