For Arsalan Zafarmand, studying biology at Irvine Valley College (IVC) was never just about mastering molecules and systems—it was about honoring a life-saving legacy. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Arsalan lost his mother in a tragic car accident before he was born. Miraculously, he survived thanks to the skill and compassion of the medical professionals who cared for him. Their dedication planted a powerful seed in Arsalan: the desire to help others through healing.
After graduating from the prestigious Allameh Tabatabei High School in Tehran with a diploma in Physics and Mathematics and a stellar GPA, Arsalan brought his academic drive to the United States in 2021. As a first-generation college student, he enrolled at IVC in 2022 with a laser focus on becoming a dentist, and eventually, an orthodontist. His course load has been intense—spanning Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Math, and Physics—and his GPA remains a perfect 4.0. Arsalan has also been the top student in nearly every class he’s taken, a result he attributes to sacrifice, discipline, and relentless self-belief.
His accomplishments at IVC are as impressive as they are inspiring. He’s earned multiple scholarships, including the Regini and Mohan Kulkarni Endowed Scholarship and the Assistance League of Irvine Endowed Scholarship, and he received the IVC Supportive Services Certificate of Recognition twice. Arsalan also served his peers as a tutor, assisting in general Chemistry courses and making a meaningful impact on student learning alongside Professor Thomas Cullen.
Beyond the classroom, Arsalan actively participated in the Persian Group, where he stepped into leadership roles, helping organize projects, and honing his communication and conflict-resolution skills. These experiences, he says, prepared him not just for a future career in dentistry, but for a life of service and empathy.
Arsalan has received acceptance letters from UC Irvine and UC Davis—two of the top public universities in the country for biology majors. He’s already preparing for life’s next chapter: volunteering in dental offices, shadowing professionals, and studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT). He hopes to transition smoothly into university life this fall by continuing his academic momentum all the way to dental school and eventually a specialty in orthodontics.
He adds, his goal is to give people beautiful smiles by aligning and straightening their teeth. Arsalan further shares, "But more than that, I want to ease people’s pain and improve their quality of life—just as those doctors did for me before I ever opened my eyes."