Los Al Grad Proves No Mountain Is ‘Too Steep’

When Ardalan Eskandar arrived in America two years ago, the Iranian teen could only speak Persian.

Given the language barrier, educators weren’t sure he could graduate from an American high school with his peers in just two years. They recommended he pursue alternative studies and community college, where he could take classes at his own pace. 

But Eskandar wanted to go to high school just like everyone else. In doing so, Eskandar taught everyone what determination can do.

“I had no idea about English, about the language and how people talk to each other,” said the Seal Beach resident, now 19.

However, by June 2013, Eskandar had not only learned the language, he’d managed to get a Los Alamitos High School diploma at the same time.

“It was the best thing I ever had in my life,” said Eskandar, who’s still taking classes to improve his language comprehension. “It’s just kind of hard for me to describe because of my words.”

It’s been a long process, but with the help of his family, teachers and counselors, Eskandar earned more than 100 credits worth of classes despite his language limitations.

Eskandar, who emigrated from Iran to Turkey in spring 2011 and then to California later that year, received all his formal schooling in Iran, according to Gregg Stone, assistant principal at Los Alamitos High School.

Because of the high number of local credits of Eskandar would need, Stone said he and others recommended Eskandar go to a community college.

But Eskandar wanted to try the high school route.

“Most kids probably would have said, ‘That’s too steep a mountain to climb. Let me go to the community college,” Stone said. “He’s not a kid that takes no for an answer. When he’s determined to do something, he’ll find a way to make it happen.”

From August 2011 to June 2012, Eskandar took classes at the high school and adult education classes at the Los Alamitos Unified School District headquarters, studying social science, government, economics, world history and U.S. history along with English 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Currently attending Goldenwest College, Eskandar said it was difficult learning the language, but he tried to compensate by speaking with as many people as he could in English.

As for his homeland, Eskandar said he doesn’t miss the oppressive political system but does miss the Iranian people and his friends there.

He enjoys his new home in America, too.

“I love how the people treat me, and they accept me,” Eskandar said. “They become friends easily with me.”

It’s not just the friends; he also says he loves the opportunities the nation presents him. Eskandar says he’d like to own his own business and hopes to attend either Long Beach University or San Diego State University.

“There’s no ‘impossible’ here,” Eskandar said. “Here you have the freedom to be everything.”

Including the freedom to be a Griffin — Eskandar said he decided he wanted to officially graduate from Los Al High after attending a ceremony for the school’s class of 2012.  

“When I saw the graduate(s) with the families and their friends, I thought, ‘I have to graduate, too,’” Eskandar said.

And he did just that on June 13. He remembers entering the center court in cap and gown at the Home Depot Tennis Center in Carson.

“It was the best moment, walking in front of the people over there, walking in front of my parents,” Eskandar said.

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