Watch the LIVE Digital Desk segment with Elham Alijanpour.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Amazon Prime’s TV Series “The College Tour” made a stop in Norfolk at Old Dominion University (ODU).
“The College Tour” series gives an inside look to universities across the country and the world.
The ODU segment stars nine students who highlight different parts of the university’s community, in their studies and extracurricular activities.
One featured student, Elham Alijanpour is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Program.
Alijanpour spoke about her experience creating the episode, moving internationally and her time at ODU. Watch the Digital Desk segment in the video player on this page.
Originally from Iran, she was motivated toward science through her upbringing.
“Being a scientist is the only thing I feel like I know how to be because of my father, because I was most of the time with him,” Alijanpour said.
Her father has always been a role model and it has always been her passion to become a scientist.
“Especially in my field, I really like biomechanics and right now I’m working on the effect of aging,” Alijanpour said.
Her passion ultimately brought her to ODU, after looking at programs around the world.
When she was applying, she had no idea what being at ODU and the Hampton Roads area or living in the United States would be like.
On her flight to the United States, she had worries about what she was doing, leaving her family, including a husband in Iran.
She found comfort in the ODU Global community on campus, that welcomed her from the first days, including assistance when moving into her apartment.
“When I came here I realized not only am I in a very unique program, but I am also in a very unique area, in a very unique university,” Alijanpour said.
When her husband was able to join her three months later, he had a F-2 visa, meaning he could not work, but can live in the United States while his wife completes her degree program.
“From the first day, we saw kindness from everybody here, and they tried to help him, they tried to help us, actually to move forward for only one year,” Alijanpour said.
The couple was only on Alijanpour’s stipend, which was difficult financially.
“I can say that was the hardest year in my life, but at the same time the sweetest year of my life,” Alijanpour said.
This semester, Alijanpour finished her candidacy exam, making her a Ph.D. Candidate. She now has two years left in her program to finish her Ph.D. and is in the middle of her research.
After overcoming limitations, Alijanpour encourages other future students to do the same and pursue their studies.
“If you want to do something, try to do it if you are really passionate about [it],” Alijanpour said. “And, I think when you are on the right track of following your heart and your passion, it’s worth [it].”
She admits it is hard, but after trying to overcome the hardships, the good fortune and success is worth it.
“If I didn’t have the hardship, if I wasn’t brave enough to leave everything I had and just come here, I never [would] be here right now,” Alijanpour said.
Alijanpour wishes an inside-look, like this segment, was available when she was looking at programs across the globe. She thinks it is a helpful tool to learn more.
“Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to make higher education accessible to everyone,” Jaime Hunt, vice president of University Communications. “’The College Tour’ provides prospective students access to college campuses they otherwise might not see, and I am excited that ODU will now be introduced to a newer, wider audience.”
The episode will debut on Amazon Prime on May 28. Until then, you can watch the segment on ODU’s website.
Learn more in the Digital Desk segment in the video player on this page.