She studied abroad to work in Ukraine later. Experience of a graduate of Ukraine Global Scholars – Views

I believe that quality education is the base. This is not only the unconditional right of every person, but also the foundation for self-realization, success and prosperity of communities in a democratic society.

Over the past five years, I had the opportunity to protest education in three countries at the university and school level with the help of inspiring organizations that, like me, believe in the future of Ukrainian youth. I would really like more talented and motivated Ukrainians to believe in themselves and gain access to quality knowledge that changes the world around them.

About myself

I grew up in a family of military personnel and studied at an ordinary school in Kharkiv. In my family, everyone was either a soldier or a teacher; Dad, for example, trains pilots. Understanding the importance of both education and service to our country reigned around me from childhood.

I have always been very interested in the history of education and how it helps people develop. Back in school, with a team of friends, we created an organization to spread non-formal education among young people. Our goal was to show our peers, high school students, that it is not necessary to leave Ukraine, but that you can do something here, get a great education, develop and create changes around you.

The path to admission to the dream university

In the 11th grade, I entered the program FLEX and studied for a year on exchange in the USA. There I saw how different education is, how strong it is, how communication with students and respect for them can be.

Then she started looking for further opportunities and learned about the program Ukraine Global Scholars (UGS). This is a charitable organization that helps talented Ukrainian high school students from poor families get grants to study at the best boarding schools and universities in the world.

After three stages of selection, UGS finalists receive comprehensive support for admission to the world’s best schools and universities. All this is free.

First, we had to go through an online test prep school SAT and TOEFL, which is conducted by experts and graduates of the program. These tests are mandatory for admission. After that, UGS usually conducts an offline camp for all finalists. Before the start of the full-scale invasion, this took place in the Carpathians, now in Poland.

The finalists gather together, meet mentors and graduates from previous years, learn all about education in the USA and learn how to fill out an application, write motivational essays and pass an interview. And, of course, they make friends for life.

After the camp, the process of preparing the admission application begins, which lasts 2-4 months. Each finalist of the program receives a volunteer mentor. This person works with the finalist on an ongoing basis to help make the right application, support when difficult, share experiences and find strengths.

For their part, the students undertake to return to Ukraine for 5 years and make a significant contribution to its development.

I really liked the ideology that people return, and not just enroll in high-class universities and build a life abroad. I was motivated to get this education and to return, to be in Ukraine, in a certain sense to serve Ukraine, because my whole family is here. She even devoted her introductory essay to UGS to her return to Ukraine.

I was very afraid to apply and I doubt if I can convince the American universities to give me a huge scholarship that would cover all the expenses of accommodation, food and tuition, because my family could not afford such sums. I thought: I’m a simple girl from Kharkiv, I don’t have a wealthy family or connections, why would anyone look at me?

However, at UGS, help to understand that the applicant’s history, perseverance, achievements and ambitions are important to American universities.

Six months of hard work and I received the long-awaited “yes” from Vassar College in of New York State, and with it a grant in the amount of $293,000.

Vassar is one of the first universities in America to educate women. It is one of the “Seven Sisters” universities – an association of top American universities. Vassar is a liberal arts college. The idea is that students receive not one set of hard skills, but study various subjects outside their main specialty.

Studying at Vassar College

When I entered the first year, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. At first, she decided to study economics, but then repeatedly changed her specialty. In the end, I focused on International Studies, because it was important to me that what I was studying gave me skills that I could apply in various fields. My studies were related to global issues: international economy, international business, international politics, sociology.

The scholarship helped to study for free for two semesters in other countries. I spent the first in Sweden, at the Stockholm School of Economics, the second in London, on the program from Boston University.

During my studies, I visited different states. She was still in school under the FLEX program in Louisiana, a Republican state, very conservative, with the most religious community in the United States. Then I ended up at Vassar – completely opposite, very liberal.

About the connection with Ukraine and the motivation to return

I have always been concerned that in Ukraine a large part of people do not work in their specialty. I wanted to avoid this because I was afraid to spend four years on something that I would not use later.

At the same time, it was important for me to maintain ties with Ukraine all the time. When I was in my first year, the COVID-19 pandemic began. 75% of the first course passed and everything closed, I returned to Ukraine. In the second year, I studied remotely in Ukraine, because the American university had strict restrictions.

In the third year of study, I went to study abroad, and in the fourth – I returned to the USA.

My university studies made me realize that there are many things to try. I was taking different courses, so I thought, why not use my four years to try something career-wise?

After the first course, with the help of UGS, I completed my internship at the office of the representative office of the international human rights organization Amnesty International in Ukraine. After that, she worked in the Verkhovna Rada, in a Ukrainian startup, a Ukrainian-American company, where the co-founder is Ukrainian, and one of the company’s offices is in Ukraine.

It’s cool that UGS has come up with so many possibilities. I came regularly and was not removed from Ukraine.

An education abroad experience can be especially valuable for those aspiring to work in the fields of education, entrepreneurship, and politics. Business is developed in Ukraine. We have great specialists, startups, very powerful companies and people. IT, the field of service – at a high level.

Ukrainians who will receive education abroad are needed to open even more cool businesses and provide jobs.

Now I have returned to Ukraine, live in Kyiv and try to implement my knowledge, skills and crazy desire to make Ukraine better, even a little, but every day.

During the first 10 months at home, I managed to try to work in Ukrainian business as a marketer, as well as in projects of the Ministry of Education and Science. She was engaged in international partnerships at Yalta European Strategy (YES).

Currently, she joined the team of People’s Deputy Oleksandra Ustinova, head of the “Voice” faction and deputy head of the American-Ukrainian caucus.

Guidance for future graduates of UGS

Everyone who is going to study abroad or vice versa – to return to Ukraine after studying – should understand what risks he/she is taking and why.

Entering the US or another country just for the sake of entering is a poor motivation that will not convince the admissions committees and will not answer the question “Why should we invest in him/her?”. The scholarship is the university’s investment in your development.

So you have to demonstrate that you are already changing the world around you, but with a quality education you can do even more useful things. At the same time, universities are not looking for applicants according to a specific type; they want to see initiative and persistence.

These can be achievements in academic disciplines, scientific works, Olympiads, as well as volunteering, sports, music, social activities. For universities, your achievements, your own story about how you overcame small and large obstacles on your way, and your desire to be an active part of society are important.

When I spoke with university representatives as part of volunteering at UGS, they told me the following: “We want to invest in students who have become such an important part of their community that their absence will be sorely felt.”. Perhaps this phrase best describes our finalists.

I would really like more people to believe in themselves. My message to all those who dream but are afraid: I and the other finalists are people just like you. You can do everything. Let this faith and dream be stronger than fear.

Everyone who wants to get an education abroad in order to return and build Ukraine together can apply until March 31 and become a part of Ukraine Global Scholars program. Registration is available at link.

Maryna Hrytsenko, graduate of the program Ukraine Global Scholars, specially for UP. Life

Publications in the “View” section are not editorial articles and reflect exclusively the author’s point of view.