Who am I? I am a curious, ambitious, stubborn adrenaline junkie. Last 6 years I have spent studying abroad, from China to Denmark, to France. And next year, I am taking on a journey to the United States. I have always been curious about new perspectives, and understanding of the world we live in, and what place I hold in it. So in the 9th grade, I sent out 23 emails to schools across the world, with the hope that they would have a spot and a scholarship. In two months, I moved to Shanghai, China, and spent one and a half years there, embracing a new culture and a new me. In the following 6 years, I continued to persist on the way to a global high-quality education that would make me a true citizen of the world. I am stubborn. In those 6 years, I faced multiple setbacks: I had taken two gap years, in the middle of high school, and after graduation, as I did not have funds for education; I had to be deported during my final year for three months as my visa could not be processed; and got caught amid an invasion. Despite that, now, finally, I am a student in a prestigious Dual-Bachelor Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris. I am an ambitious, full of adrenaline person. Born and raised in Kharkiv, 40 kilometers away from the Russian border, the Russian Aggression was not on TV but in front of my house. However, I had a hard time leaving Ukraine when the war broke out, looking for an opportunity to do anything to contribute to bringing peace. So, instead, I dedicated my time to working with international media in Kyiv and our frontlines – shed light on the atrocities of Russian Aggression and share stories of Ukrainian bravery. Witnessing these injustices and crimes against civilians fueled me to join the field of International Relations, specifically conflict and peace resolution. I hope to combine my two bachelor's in political and information sciences in the field of Intelligence and utilize its findings in the promotion of peace resolution and transitional justice. Russian War against Ukraine has become the most documented conflict in history, with multiple data scientists and IT specialists now fighting on our frontlines by collecting data and evidence of crimes against humanity in Ukraine. I believe that a combination of political and information science as majors will provide me with crucial skills in my ambitious goal of fighting for justice and bringing legal accountability to areas of conflict across the world, whether it is Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar or beyond. In the end, I do not mind the hardships I went through - not even war in my hometown could stop me from pursuing my path. However, I do wish to feel equal to my peers, to feel strong on my feet, and to truly benefit from the opportunities of the unique educational program. To attend each class, without running for another work shift; to choose the quality of internship over a higher paid job; attend events and enjoy speakers from across the world; to continue shaping myself into a person capable of creating long-lasting meaningful change.

I wish I had much to describe about my adversities of being a student in the United States. Yet I cannot. My major adversity till now lies in, first, getting to the United States, and starting my education there. I am a student in a Dual-Bachelor program between SciencesPo University in France, and Columbia University. As a part of this prestigious and multi-dimensional program, I am receiving a bachelor’s in political science during my time in France, and for the final 2 years of the program, starting in September 2024, I am going to study Information Science at Columbia University I was supposed to be in the United States for the rest of my education a year ago. However, I have not gone yet. When I was accepted, due to limited financial aid, and the fees of the institutions, the financial burden was too high for my family or for me to be able to enroll. So I decided to take a gap year – put my energy into securing finances to support my future education and search for scholarship opportunities that would ensure that my life-long dream does come true. Throughout my gap year and up till now, I have worked as a producer helping international media to tell stories of Ukrainian citizens in the time of Russian Aggression. At the same time, I work as a tutor, study, and try to truly appreciate the multinational environment of the program. I do not mind the hardships I went through - not even war in my hometown could stop me from pursuing my path. However, I do wish to feel equal to my peers, to feel strong on my feet, and to truly benefit from the opportunities of a unique education. To attend each class, without running for another work shift; to choose quality of internship over a higher paid job; attend events and enjoy speakers from across the world. To be completely honest, I am truly scared to be going to the United States and to miss out on all the things I have looked forward to enhance my professional goals. All to make sure that the university bills are covered. Sometimes I ask myself – Is the quality of education worth it if I end up not benefiting from it? By the end of the day, I tell myself “Stupid”. I say so because I have been committed to working within the realm of international relations, specifically in peace and security, over the last 5 years. During my time as a journalist, I have learned of the potential of technology in security issues. This Russian War against Ukraine has become the most documented conflict in history, with multiple data scientists and IT specialists now fighting on our frontlines by collecting data and evidence of crimes against humanity in Ukraine. I believe that a combination of political and information science as majors will provide me with crucial skills to fight for justice and bring legal accountability to areas of conflict across the world, whether it is Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar and beyond. At the end of the day, I remind myself that without the educational path I have laid out, and the diversity of opportunities it brings, these goals will be ever further.

March 6th, 2023, at a refugee camp in Amman, Jordan. With a group from my university, we participated in a workshop about the lives of refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. Despite a year having passed since the onset of the extensive conflict in my homeland, Ukraine, I had never viewed myself as a refugee; I simply identified as a student. During the visit to the camp, we were instructed to write down the four most precious things in our lives on a piece of paper. Once we had finished, all the papers were collected from us, with the words, "This is what refugees experience every day." I was born and raised in Kharkiv, about forty kilometers from the Russian border. When the invasion began, I ensured that my mother and I had a safe place to go. Once that was settled, I began working with foreign journalists to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine. I traveled with them from Bucha to Bakhmut, making sure that the world heard of our pain and bravery. During that time, I lost family members, friends, and my home. Nevertheless, we all continued to display courage. The restlessness mentality did not leave me for a year after the invasion started. However, it was at the camp in East Amman that I found myself overwhelmed with emotion, leaving the room with tears streaming down my face. It was the first time I truly confronted the magnitude of my losses. I am currently a Political Science student in a dual bachelor's program between Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University, a four-year journey that allows me to be a student at both institutions simultaneously. Next year, I will begin my second major at Columbia – Statistics. During my time as a journalist, I have learned of the potential of technology in security issues. This Russian War against Ukraine has become the most documented conflict in history, with multiple data scientists and IT specialists now fighting on our frontlines by collecting data and evidence of crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Every future conflict will likely follow a similar pattern. Companies like BellingCat and organizations such as Human Rights Watch are already utilizing statistical analysis and data visualization to support cases in the International Court of Justice. I have chosen to pursue a double major in Political Science and Statistics because I believe that data science can provide crucial insights into the realm of politics. In this data-driven world, governments, political behaviors, and trends will all be guided by data. In Russia's case, behavioral analytics could aid in understanding the impact of propaganda and predicting future events. One can also comprehend the significance of social media on democracy, engage in data journalism, or employ data for international and local advocacy. For me, it is essential to navigate this digitally transformed world in order to create a meaningful and positive change, as well as equip institutions responsible for peace and well-being with the tools and skills needed to embrace the new digital era of data.