How International Student Simon Khorani Creates a Home Away from Home

Simon 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.”

Learn more about Khorani's Pepperdine story on the University Newsroom.