Lena's OPT (Optional Practical Training) Experience!

Hey guys! My name is Lena Nalchigar. I’m 23 years old and I moved to Santa Barbara around 3 years ago from my hometown in Sweden. After having finished 5 semesters at Santa Barbara City College, I received my Associate degree in Graphic Design and Photography and like most recent graduates, I wasn’t completely sure of what I wanted to do.

Studying abroad comes with plenty of exciting opportunities and possibilities. One of these is OPT (Optional Practical Training), which is basically a 12-month work permit to work in the United States after graduating from college. 

So, how do you apply for OPT? There are several steps in applying to OPT and a lot of paperwork to fill out. First, you need to fill out an OPT application and submit it to your college's International Student Services office. Your international advisor will provide you with a new I-20 and materials/checklist of what you will need to send to the USCIS. You will have 30 days from the date the OPT-endorsed I-20 was issued to send your application, or else you will be denied.

Graphic Design is a broad field and I chose to do my OPT before transferring to a 4-year institution. This allows me to gain hands on experience working alongside professionals in similar fields to get a glimpse of what my future work might look like and ultimately realize what I want to specialize in. Aside from this, many of the world’s biggest and most well-known companies have their headquarters here in the United States, so it is a great opportunity to gain work experience here. Finally, work experience is very helpful for growing your professional network. Learning about networking, strengths, weaknesses, what you’re good at and what kind of career you want to pursue and then ultimately, to deepen your knowledge and gain skills and experience in jobs that are related to your major.

There is a 90-day grace period from when the OPT officially starts to find a job, if you don’t find one during this time, your SEVIS is expired. In other words, you would have to go back home. Apply as early as you can - the earliest you can apply for your OPT is 90 days before graduation, but take into account the time that will take you to put your application together. Get all your forms in order beforehand so that when the day comes, you can just drop your application in the mailbox. Applying early is only about getting your EAD card (the physical Work Permit card required to be allowed to work in the U.S.) as soon as possible. Your OPT period start date—within 60 days of your graduation date—is completely up to you.

(Views from my new job in Santa Barbara)

When I applied for my OPT in February, I was told the process of receiving your EAD could take up to 4 months. In other words, I could be stuck in the US waiting for 4 months without being allowed to work. Luckily, I received my EAD in April. After receiving my card, my job hunt started. After almost 2 months of applying, I was hired at a Social Media Marketing Agency based in Santa Barbara. Right now at the agency, my responsibilities include helping clients with social media campaigns, creating ads, thinking of new and fresh content as well as monitoring our clients social media engagement. It is a very fun job and I learn something new every day. All the stress and hard work finally paid off, even when I thought It wouldn’t.

Looking back at the experience, there is nothing I would do differently. In a way, this is my first step into adulthood, and It has been a stressful, yet great and educational experience that I’ll never forget.

Dreams begin in Summer Session II

Zeynep Kolemen from Turkey

My name is Zeynep and I’m from Istanbul, Turkey. I have been in the U.S. for 8 months. I flew more than 6,000 miles to achieve my dreams. During my first 6 months in Santa Barbara, I was studying at ELC, a language school, because I didn’t feel comfortable about my English skills. After I completed my language course, I transferred to SBCC in June for Summer Session II.

The reason why I chose to study at SBCC is because it is the number one community college in the U.S. I think SBCC is the best place to improve yourself for your future goals because there are plenty of options, and you can take whichever class you want. My first day at SBCC was meaningful because it was the beginning of my dream. My dream is to create my own children’s clothing brand in the U.S. I already hold a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering from my country. I want my brand to be known worldwide, which is why I came the U.S. I chose Marketing as my major at SBCC to understand the American business culture and trading system well. After I finish my degree, I can do my OPT in a textile company to deeply understand the business life. During summer session, I had the chance to meet with Mayor of Santa Barbara, Cathy Murillo. I told her about my dreams and she recommended me to go to Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) in order to get support and start my business plan.

One of the greatest experiences I’ve had in the U.S. during these 8 months has been as a volunteer for an non-profit organization called, Worldhealer. We visited Boys & Girls Club several times and made presentations to children about cultural, social, environmental, and behavioral differences around the world. I am still trying to adjust to the culture, people, and especially the language, in the United States. It is hard, but not impossible! During our visits, I sometimes couldn’t understand what the children said while we were playing games. When I couldn’t understand, I would just smile at them and they smiled back. That is when I realized that all we need is a smile even if we are different and don’t understand each other!

In Summer Session II, I took English 98, Marketing 101 (an online class), and PD 101B (an orientation class for international students). English 98 was the hardest class that I took in summer session. I wrote 3-5 page essays every week, but I passed the class and I am really proud of myself. I feel that my English has been improving day by day. Marketing 101 was the first online class I ever took. I learned how to use Canvas, attend and do my modules, discussions, and quizzes. PD101B was one of my favorite classes because it gave me the opportunity to meet people from other nationalities, and we got to share our dreams with each other. Although I am an international student, in class, I have never felt that I am different from the other students. Our teachers are always helpful and equal to each of us. I feel lucky and happy to be here!