“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford My name is Daria Kurochkina, I am an international student from Ukraine. When I was born doctors told my mum I won't be able to walk, talk, hear or see... Good for me it didn't happen. During my school time, I become one of the best math and programming students in the region. I was a member of an exchange program (US ESP) and graduated high school in WA at 15 years old. While living in the US I understood that I have more potential in this country and I want to get my degree in America. My mum and I started to save money so I could at least start my education abroad, she always believes in me and my potential. At 16 years old I finished 2 years of Ukrainian high school in 10 months and at the same time, I had a full-time job... I mean 3 half-time jobs. ( cashier, accountant, and documents translater ( I speak 4 languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German)). At 17 years old I moved to California on my own with no family, no friends, and no idea what I am going to do next and how. I am currently a student at a community college (De Anza College). My major is computer science and data science. I am really happy to be surrounded by so many smart, intelligent people and successful companies. I can smell the success in the Bay area. My college life started well but didn't continue as well as I expected. February 24th I got the worst phone call in my life. My mum called me and said that the war started. She was crying and screaming, I could hear shooting and bombing in the background. It was a nightmare, it is still a nightmare. The first month was the worst for me. I couldn't sleep, eat... I couldn't function. I was just crying and checking the news every minute. Every second I feel the pain of everything person. During the second month of the war, I lost my friend, he died when a bomb fell on his house. I still can't believe I never going to see or hear him again. And then a few weeks after I lost one more friend under the same circumstances... After that, time stopped, it just was the same day again and again. During all of this, my aunt was 3 months pregnant, she got her first baby on October 17th, 2022 in Ukraine. My grandma had a stroke and spent a few months in the hospital, she is really sick and I am praying every day to be able to see her and everyone else again. Four months ago a school of my childhood got bombed, my favorite street, my favorite park, cafe... And a few days after our family business got bombed (restaurant), it was 80% of our family income. 90% of my city is gone (Mykolaiv, Ukraine). Every day a new nightmare. Well, during all of this I am in CA, successfully studying, managing 20 units, 2 clubs-organizations, 2 volunteer programs, and a part-time job. I am trying to be happy for myself and my family. I need to use every opportunity in my life right now to be successful. I need to help my family and rebuild my country.

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford My name is Daria Kurochkina, I am an international student from Ukraine. When I was born doctors told my mum I won't be able to walk, talk, hear or see... Good for me it didn't happen. During my school time, I become one of the best math and programming students in the region. I was a member of an exchange program (US ESP) and graduated high school in WA at 15 years old. While living in the US I understood that I have more potential in this country and I want to get my degree in America. My mum and I started to save money so I could at least start my education abroad, she always believes in me and my potential. At 16 years old I finished 2 years of Ukrainian high school in 10 months and at the same time, I had a full-time job... I mean 3 half-time jobs. ( cashier, accountant, and documents translater ( I speak 4 languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German)). At 17 years old I moved to California on my own with no family, no friends, and no idea what I am going to do next and how. I am currently a student at a community college (De Anza College). My major is computer science and data science. I am really happy to be surrounded by so many smart, intelligent people and successful companies. I can smell the success in the Bay area. My college life started well but didn't continue as well as I expected. February 24th I got the worst phone call in my life. My mum called me and said that the war started. She was crying and screaming, I could hear shooting and bombing in the background. It was a nightmare, it is still a nightmare. The first month was the worst for me. I couldn't sleep, eat... I couldn't function. I was just crying and checking the news every minute. Every second I feel the pain of everything person. During the second month of the war, I lost my friend, he died when a bomb fell on his house. I still can't believe I never going to see or hear him again. And then a few weeks after I lost one more friend under the same circumstances... After that, time stopped, it just was the same day again and again. During all of this, my aunt was 3 months pregnant, she got her first baby on October 17th, 2022 in Ukraine. My grandma had a stroke and spent a few months in the hospital, she is really sick and I am praying every day to be able to see her and everyone else again. Four months ago a school of my childhood got bombed, my favorite street, my favorite park, cafe... And a few days after our family business got bombed (restaurant), it was 80% of our family income. 90% of my city is gone (Mykolaiv, Ukraine). Every day a new nightmare. Well, during all of this I am in CA, successfully studying, managing 20 units, 2 clubs-organizations, 2 volunteer programs, and a part-time job. I am trying to be happy for myself and my family. I need to use every opportunity in my life right now to be successful. I need to help my family and rebuild my country.

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford My name is Daria Kurochkina, I am an international student from Ukraine. When I was born doctors told my mum I won't be able to walk, talk, hear or see... Good for me it didn't happen. During my school time, I become one of the best math and programming students in the region. I was a member of an exchange program (US ESP) and graduated high school in WA at 15 years old. While living in the US I understood that I have more potential in this country and I want to get my degree in America. My mum and I started to save money so I could at least start my education abroad, she always believes in me and my potential. At 16 years old I finished 2 years of Ukrainian high school in 10 months and at the same time, I had a full-time job... I mean 3 half-time jobs. ( cashier, accountant, and documents translater ( I speak 4 languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German)). At 17 years old I moved to California on my own with no family, no friends, and no idea what I am going to do next and how. I am currently a student at a community college (De Anza College). My major is computer science and data science. I am really happy to be surrounded by so many smart, intelligent people and successful companies. I can smell the success in the Bay area. My college life started well but didn't continue as well as I expected. February 24th I got the worst phone call in my life. My mum called me and said that the war started. She was crying and screaming, I could hear shooting and bombing in the background. It was a nightmare, it is still a nightmare. The first month was the worst for me. I couldn't sleep, eat... I couldn't function. I was just crying and checking the news every minute. Every second I feel the pain of everything person. During the second month of the war, I lost my friend, he died when a bomb fell on his house. I still can't believe I never going to see or hear him again. And then a few weeks after I lost one more friend under the same circumstances... After that, time stopped, it just was the same day again and again. During all of this, my aunt was 3 months pregnant, she got her first baby on October 17th, 2022 in Ukraine. My grandma had a stroke and spent a few months in the hospital, she is really sick and I am praying every day to be able to see her and everyone else again. Four months ago a school of my childhood got bombed, my favorite street, my favorite park, cafe... And a few days after our family business got bombed (restaurant), it was 80% of our family income. 90% of my city is gone (Mykolaiv, Ukraine). Every day a new nightmare. Well, during all of this I am in CA, successfully studying, managing 20 units, 2 clubs-organizations, 2 volunteer programs, and a part-time job. I am trying to be happy for myself and my family. I need to use every opportunity in my life right now to be successful. I need to help my family and rebuild my country.