One day, everything changed. I woke up not from the sound of the alarm, but from the sound of sirens and, sadly, the rockets. It was an invasion of my country, Ukraine. The place where I was born and grew up, where I spent all my childhood. My family made a decision that for my mother and me, it would be safer and provide more opportunities to start a completely new life, in a completely new country, across the ocean. When I came to the United States of America from Ukraine, my first freshman year was totally new. Life in the U.S appeared not sweet, as it is always shown in Hollywood movies. I didn't speak English, and I felt entirely lost in a new world, where I had to start from the beginning, experiencing a deep existential vacuum. My first challenge was English; I knew it only from the textbooks and school lessons, where we were just learning: "London is the capital of Great Britain". When I went on my first day to the American High School, it was a completely new world for me. Every time, I was feeling ashamed that I was different than my peers. But at Northeast High School, with the help of a great ESOL and AOF teachers, I decided to face these massive obstacles head-on. I realized that my future is only in my hands. I treated academics as my first job, working tirelessly to break through the language barrier. There was a bilingual assistant named Natasha who took me from the diapers in the 9th grade when I just came. She showed me that if there is an obstacle, you may fall, but you get up and move forward. I was a volunteer member of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and had experience in volunteering at school and in churches/charities. I helped foreign students in successful entering High School (translation services). When you go through a hard path and achieve the most desirable goal, it's satisfying to help others, so they don't have to go through the same difficulties as I did. The last thing that started to attract me was air. I have understood that I will never become an office worker, that freedom and adventure are what I live for. For me, becoming a commercial pilot, being part of the wind, brings the feeling that I am in this energy. Now, just a few years later, I am graduating with a 4.47 GPA, Honor Awards, and an acceptance to ERAU. When I become a commercial pilot, the first thing I'll do is show my family the world I never had. Helping other people, creating new foundations, clubs, and charity organizations would be my calling. I am most proud that I survived the darkest vacuum of my life, persevered through the silence of a new language, and accomplished my dream.

In 2022, the sky over Ukraine, which I once enjoyed watching, became a place of siren sounds and falling rockets. My beautiful city was in flames, filled with cruelty. My family decided that my mother and I had to leave. Saying goodbye to everyone I knew, my father, who was not allowed to leave, and my friends, was the hardest day of my life. Crossing the border and landing in St. Petersburg, my future felt like a complete emptiness. When I came to the United States of America from Ukraine, my first freshman year was totally new. Life did not appear like in Hollywood movies, I didn't speak English, and I felt entirely lost in a new world, where I had to start from the beginning, experiencing a deep existential vacuum. But at Northeast High School, with the help of a great ESOL and AOF teachers, I decided to face these massive obstacles head-on. There was a bilingual assistant named Natasha who took me from the diapers in the 9th grade when I just came. I realized that my future is only in my hands. I treated academics as my first job, working tirelessly to break through the language barrier. She showed me that if there is an obstacle, you may fall, but you get up and move forward, even if it's hard, there is always some help from different resources that you might never expect. It taught me to work collaboratively and keep time management. I became not afraid and tried myself in the new clubs, societies, state and district competitions, and volunteering at different places. I was a volunteer member of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and had experience in volunteering at school and in churches/charities. I helped foreign students in successful entering High School (translation services). When you go through a hard path and achieve the most desirable goal, it's satisfying to help others, so they don't have to go through the same difficulties as I did. Helping other people, creating new foundations, clubs, and charity organizations would be my calling. It would be more than just counseling, it would be a navigation means for those who were lost same as I once was! I wish to show them all the painting and shadows of the universe life has to offer. Now, just a few years later, I am graduating with a 4.47 GPA, Honor Awards, and an acceptance to ERAU. I am most proud that I survived the darkest vacuum of my life, persevered through the silence of a new language, and accomplished my dream. My life, my mindset, my goals, and my values could be completely different if one day I had not decided to try something new in my life.

Boldly, Unapologetically Me Life in the U.S appeared not sweet, as it is always shown in Hollywood movies. I didn't speak English, and I felt entirely lost in a new world, where I had to start from the beginning, experiencing a deep existential vacuum. Every time, I was feeling ashamed that I was different than my peers. I was taking my camera, a tripod, and we with my mom were going to a night beach. At some point, I found that analog film cameras are my picks, where film photos represent my reality without fakeness, just optics of the light. The last thing that started to attract me was air. I have understood that I will never become an office worker, that freedom and adventure are what I live for. I thought that want to bring optimism into this world and make other people trust me and be happy. Coming to reality, life showed me that every one of us is different and we have to trust ourselves and listen to what we sincerely want. For me, becoming a commercial pilot, being part of the wind, brings the feeling that I am in this energy. And challenges that we do encounter are given to learn from and become who we are sincerely must be! Creating Connection One day, everything changed. I woke up not from the sound of the alarm, but from the sound of sirens and, sadly, the rockets. My beautiful city was in flames, filled with cruelty. I realized that my future is only in my hands. I treated academics as my first job, working tirelessly to break through the language barrier. But at Northeast High School, with the help of a great ESOL and AOF teachers, I decided to face these massive obstacles head-on. The goals and values help us, people, move in the right direction. When you go through a hard path and achieve the most desirable goal, it's satisfying to help others, so they don't have to go through the same difficulties as I did. I also would love to support other enthusiasts who share the same passion for aviation. Helping other people, creating new foundations, clubs, and charity organizations would be my calling. It would be more than just counseling, it would be a navigation means for those who were lost same as I once was! I wish to show them all the painting and shadows of the universe life has to offer. I am most proud that I survived the darkest vacuum of my life, persevered through the silence of a new language, and accomplished my dream.

The sky was always something that I was passionate about. Back in the days when I was a little kid, I would always enjoy stopping for a moment, look on it and dreaming about something big. The sky had some special secret from me. In the daytime, I could see different animals in the clouds, thinking why people cannot jump and fly over them. While at night, I saw the stars as some sort of lights that have their own history, and they are all different. Life in the U.S appeared not sweet, as it is always shown in Hollywood movies. I felt entirely lost in a new world, where I had to start from the beginning, experiencing a deep existential vacuum. I was taking my camera, a tripod, and we with my mom were going to a night beach, which has the lowest amount of light pollution. Firstly, I started to enjoy simple moments, feeling the ocean breeze on my skin, or looking at a star far away. But then, I started to find myself in it, I started to engage more deeply, for example, using a special app that shows upcoming sky events such as comets or other beautiful items, or a map that shows exact areas with the lowest light pollution. From this, I began to use a camera and different sets of settings. At some point, I found that analog film cameras are my picks, where film photos represent my reality without fakeness, just optics of the light. When I got involved in stars, it is something unique where a person finds repose and peace. I wish to show them all the painting and shadows of the universe life has to offer!

In 2022, the sky over Ukraine, which I once enjoyed watching, became a place of siren sounds and falling rockets. My beautiful city was in flames, filled with cruelty. My family decided that my mother and I had to leave. Saying goodbye to everyone I knew, my father, who was not allowed to leave, and my friends, was the hardest day of my life. After a tense train ride to Estonia and long flights, we arrived in Mexico. Crossing the border and landing in St. Petersburg, my future felt like a complete emptiness. Life did not appear like in Hollywood movies, I didn't speak English, and I felt entirely lost in a new world, where I had to start from the beginning, experiencing a deep existential vacuum. But at Northeast High School, with the help of a great ESOL and AOF teachers, I decided to face these massive obstacles head-on. I realized that my future is only in my hands. I treated academics as my first job, working tirelessly to break through the language barrier. Now, just a few years later, I am graduating with a 4.47 GPA, Honor Awards, and an acceptance to ERAU. When asked what I am most proud of, it isn't a single medal. I am most proud that I survived the darkest vacuum of my life, persevered through the silence of a new language, and accomplished my dream. The sky that once terrified me is now the sky I am going to fly in. The goals and values help us, people, move in the right direction. When I got involved in stars, I realized that aviation gravitates me. It is something unique where a person finds repose and peace while contemplating the highest sunrises and sunsets above the Earth. Aviation is all about deep responsibility of commanding a complex aircraft and ensuring safe flight with hundreds of passengers to their destinations. Uncertainty and unpredictability are also what make aviation intriguing; the dynamic nature, where every route and weather forecast brings a new challenge to solve and move on. That is exactly why I am choosing this path over a traditional office job from 8 to 6. When I become a commercial pilot, the first thing I'll do is show my family the world I never had. I wish to show them all the painting and shadows of the universe life has to offer, so when they grow up, they'll have an idea of what they'll want to do in their lives. I also would love to support other enthusiasts who share the same passion for aviation. When you go through a hard path and achieve the most desirable goal, it's satisfying to help others, so they don't have to go through the same difficulties as I did. Helping other people, creating new foundations, clubs, and charity organizations would be my calling. It would be more than just counseling, it would be a navigation means for those who were lost same as I once was!

The sky was always something that I was passionate about. Back in the days when I was a little kid, I would always enjoy stopping for a moment, look on it and dreaming about something big. The sky had some special secret from me. In the daytime, I could see different animals in the clouds, thinking why people cannot jump and fly over them. While at night, I saw the stars as some sort of lights that have their own history, and they are all different. One day, everything changed. I woke up not from the sound of the alarm, but from the sound of sirens and, sadly, the rockets. It was an invasion of my country, Ukraine. The place where I was born and grew up, where I spent all my childhood. This day showed me that nothing will be the same as it was before. My family made a decision that for my mother and me, it would be safer and provide more opportunities to start a completely new life, in a completely new country, across the ocean. From that decision, about 3 years ago, we came here to the United States of America. Life in the U.S appeared not sweet, as it is always shown in Hollywood movies. We started to encounter new challenges, which was the price for the new piece in our lives. My first challenge was English; I knew it only from the textbooks and school lessons, where we were just learning: "London is the capital of Great Britain". When I went on my first day to the American High School, it was a completely new world for me. I was taking my camera, a tripod, and we with my mom were going to a night beach, which has the lowest amount of light pollution. Firstly, I started to enjoy simple moments, feeling the ocean breeze on my skin, or looking at a star far away. But then, I started to find myself in it, I started to engage more deeply, for example, using a special app that shows upcoming sky events such as comets or other beautiful items, or a map that shows exact areas with the lowest light pollution. From this, I began to use a camera and different sets of settings. At some point, I found that analog film cameras are my picks, where film photos represent my reality without fakeness, just optics of the light. The last thing that started to attract me was air. I have understood that I will never become an office worker, that freedom and adventure are what I live for. I thought that want to bring optimism into this world and make other people trust me and be happy. The plane became for me a big metal bird that can take you to any point in the world, while you have control of it. Coming to reality, life showed me that every one of us is different and we have to trust ourselves and listen to what we sincerely want. For me, becoming a commercial pilot, being part of the wind, brings the feeling that I am in this energy. And challenges that we do encounter are given to learn from and become who we are sincerely must be!