CCBC Graduate, International Student, Legal Studies, '23
CCBC in three words: diverse, respectful and fun.
Sabrina Pereira, an international student from India, researched colleges in the United States and ultimately decided to come to CCBC because of her uncle who is a professor at CCBC Catonsville.
“When I was in India, I initially had no idea about community colleges until my uncle educated me,” said Pereira. “I watched multiple YouTube videos and decided that I would love to attend a community college because of the cost and smaller classroom size.”
Cost was a huge factor in choosing to come to CCBC, especially because, as an international student, Pereira pays out-of-state tuition. To help offset costs, she received a CCBC Cares scholarship and a book scholarship from the Honors program. She also works on campus as a barista.
Pereira, a Legal Studies major, heard great things about CCBC’s Legal Studies program.
“All of my professors are lawyers, and a majority of my classmates work in the legal field as a paralegal or a legal assistant,” said Pereira. “This makes my class more interesting as I get more input on how things work in a law firm. The teaching is more real and logical this way, and I learn a lot from my peers.”
I like how diverse CCBC is and how students are very easygoing and open to making friends.
Pereira wanted the full college experience, so she got involved in clubs and activities on campus and started making friends during her second semester. “I love the CCBC community and how respectful they are towards each other. This is one of the reasons why I love CCBC so much.”
In addition to being one of CCBC’s Fresh Faces, she is president of the International Club, vice president of the Psychology Club, and officer of the Anime Club and Green Club. She is also involved in the African Student Union, Garden Club, Dance Express, Food Fanatics and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. View clubs and organizations.
Pereira believes it is important to get her associate degree before transferring to a four-year university because not only will it help minimize costs, but it will open doors for scholarships, internships and other opportunities.
A 2023 CCBC graduate, Pereira transferred to the University of Baltimore to finish her bachelor’s degree and move on to the University of Baltimore Law School. She wants to become a lawyer focused on civil litigation.