I was born in the "city of thousand roses" - Donetsk. It is a big city in the east of Ukraine. My family was pretty standard: two hard-working parents and 4 kids, including me. We lived modestly and enjoyed an ordinary life. In 2013, my parents were able to save money to finally build a new house. Suddenly, when no one was expecting it, the war began in our city in 2014. After several months under bombings, my father called my mom from captivity and imperatively asked my mom to escape Donetsk and travel to a safe area. It was a very hard decision; my mom had to pack all the necessary things, grab the children, and take the bus to the nearest safe city. First, we went to Mariupol - a city in the Donetsk region. Four of us stayed in a small room with three beds, waiting for our father to be released from captivity. I was only 9 at that time, but I remember those moments quite clearly. When we finally met my father a month later, we decided to move to the capital city of Ukraine – Kyiv, since our territory was already occupied. We lost everything, and I felt that. We had to start everything with a clean slate. There, in Kyiv, we stayed one year in our friend’s country house. I still remember that ice-cold bathroom built in the basement, in which it was impossible to stay for too long, especially in winter, and a small couch that only I could sleep on due to my small body size. We didn’t have TV or Wi-Fi there, so my younger brother and I tried to enjoy watching the only 3 cartoons hundreds of times that my mom had on her computer. There were pros and cons, but in the end, I enjoyed the village life there. My family was moving from place to place every year. Somewhere, I slept on a broken bed, not being able to repair it, somewhere I had to sleep on an air mattress. For the first couple of years, my dad had trouble finding a job, so most of the time my mom was the only person in the family with income. When we finally started to feel like our life is getting better, the war in 2022 began in a whole country. We had to do important decisions again, as it was 8 years ago. My parents decided to send me here, to the U.S., to get a good education. Of course, without the help of our American friends, nothing would have worked out. I am very grateful for such an opportunity, and I am doing my best to not disappoint my parents that are sacrificing a lot for me. Life consists of a bad and good streak. Throughout my life path, I’ve learned to value things that are really important. I’ve learned that no matter where I am and what I have (or I don’t have) I can still be happy and should be grateful. During the 17 years of my life, I have studied at 7 different schools in different cities and countries. My experience with different educational systems and living in diverse societies taught me to be able to adapt and socialize quickly. But most importantly, it helped me to be flexible. I am very proud of my parents and my country. In the future, I want to give my all to Ukraine. With help of good education, I will become a dignified specialist and make my country the best place to live.

I had always been an open-minded kid. Tons of encyclopedias were always around me. Since my childhood, I was amazed by anthropologists and wanted to become one. In school, my favorite subjects were geography, foreign languages, and history. Since the summer of 2021, I started to be interested in politics. I was reading articles, making researches, and talking with my dad, who is very knowledgeable about politics and constantly reads the news and watches analytics. We always spent hours talking about political situation and history. I really miss those times since I’m far away from home and I no longer have those opportunities to talk with my parents a lot. I came to the U.S. by myself to continue my professional studies. In recent times, the world has been grappling with numerous challenges ranging from climate change, economic inequality, and political instability to global pandemics, to mention but a few. While addressing these problems may seem daunting, it is possible to make a positive impact by better understanding history, cultural anthropology, political science, or geography in shaping an equitable and promising future. First, history provides insights into how past societies and systems have succeeded or failed in different contexts. It enables us to understand the complexity of social and cultural trends, technological advancements, global trade patterns, and the evolution of democracy, as well as authoritarian regimes. For instance, we can examine how libertarianism fueled the economic growth of the US in the 1900s or the rise of authoritarianism in Nazi Germany to understand the best approaches to governance, environmental policy, and the viable political systems that facilitate social and economic advancement. Similarly, cultural anthropology teaches us about the diversity and richness of various societies, their unique beliefs and customs that contribute to their identity, and the various social and political systems that govern them. By embracing diversity and understanding cultural anthropology, we can learn to respect and appreciate different cultures and avoid conflicts that arise from misunderstandings. For instance, by examining the rights and beliefs of Indigenous peoples, we can find ways to preserve their unique culture and arrange a way for them to communicate about their traditions within the framework of modern society. Thirdly, Political Science equips us with knowledge about the organization and management of political institutions and systems. It also helps us to understand the complex nature of power and how it can be used to address inequality and poverty. We can also develop new approaches to effective governance that emphasize inclusion, transparency, and accountability, which are critical for creating social cohesion and economic growth. Finally, geography provides us with a clear understanding of how different parts of the world are connected physically and culturally. By comprehending global patterns of trade, movement, and location, we can better understand how different populations interact within the world system. This knowledge can be used to mitigate issues of inequality and uneven distribution of resources that impact the development of different regions. For instance, by studying critical issues such as human migration, climate forcing, and territorial borders, we can craft effective policies that address global challenges without harming other people's livelihoods. In conclusion, understanding the lessons learned from history, cultural anthropology, political science, or geography can help us make a difference in shaping a fair and just world. By developing a comprehensive understanding of past civilizations, cultures, political organizations, and global connectivity, we can build sustainable systems that promote diversity, human rights, economic growth, and stability. By embracing and utilizing these lessons, we can find ways to make lasting improvements geared toward creating a better world for ourselves and future generations.