Congratulations to Xinyue "Margaret" Liang, a member of the Citrus College Class of 2026, who will be continuing her academic journey at Columbia University in New York City in the fall.
Margaret attended Shenzhen Foreign Languages School in China before moving to California and enrolling at Citrus College as a mathematics major. "One of the reasons I chose Citrus was the close-knit community," she said. "The campus is very welcoming, and that sense of friendliness made a big difference in helping me feel supported and connected."
Margaret describes her time at the college as "extremely positive," citing its supportive environment and opportunities for involvement. "The resources here are concentrated and accessible, which makes it easier for students to grow and seek support," she said. "Getting involved through campus jobs and organizations, such as Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Gamma Sigma, also helped me become more engaged in campus life and better adapt to American society and culture."
The connections Margaret made on campus have played a significant role in her success. She credits faculty mentors, including Dr. Lucia Riderer, Dr. Anthony Giammalva and Robert Chen, as well as staff across campus, for helping her gain confidence, discover her academic interests and develop a clear sense of direction. In addition, resources like the honors transfer program and the STEM Center provided consistent guidance throughout her journey. "What I appreciate most is that whenever I wanted to pursue something or need help, there were always people willing to support me – whether they were counselors, advisors or other faculty members," she said.
As an international student, Margaret found this support to be vital. Although she encountered academic and personal challenges throughout her journey, she learned to be resilient. "Rather than seeing challenges only as obstacles, I tried to view them as opportunities to grow," Margaret said. "With that mindset, I calmed myself emotionally and took time to analyze the problem step by step and find a solution. This approach helped me move forward."
For Margaret, moving forward involves transferring to Columbia University and building a career in artificial intelligence or finance. As she transitions to this next stage, she says she will carry with her everything she learned at Citrus College.
"I am very grateful for my time here," she said. "It has been a place where I not only developed academically, but also gained confidence, direction and a stronger understanding of who I am and what I want to pursue in the future. Citrus will always be a meaningful part of my journey."
On behalf of the campus community, we congratulate Margaret on her success and wish her the best as she continues to pursue her academic and professional goals!
This student spotlight was originally shared on the official Citrus College Facebook account on Thursday, July 9, 2026.