Robiyabonu Mukhamedgarayeva is studying at the Higher School of Printing and Media Technologies of SUITD under the educational program "Management in Media business and Printing". The young woman came to Russia from sunny Uzbekistan and during her 4 years of study she managed to try herself as a mentor of the Center for Adaptation of Foreign Students, a volunteer of the WorldSkills qualifying championship of the SUITD, as well as a curator of the Employment Promotion program. We talked with Rabia about studying, volunteering and the difficulties experienced by foreign students.
– Why did you decide to get higher education in another country?
– My parents initially wanted me to get higher education in Russia, I was still in school at that time. At first I was against it, because it seemed to me that living alone, far from my parents, in another country would be difficult and scary. However, over time, I realized that there are more opportunities for me personally in Russia. That's why I came here.
– Did your parents help you deal with a fear of relocation? After all, foreigners, especially girls, often face the fact that their parents are afraid to let them go to another country alone.
– My parents, on the opposite, were all for it. They directly pushed me to this decision, and I, on the contrary, resisted. Now I am very glad that I listened to them. Probably, they were also afraid to let me go, but they knew that studying abroad would only benefit me. Before moving here, I was a very closed person, I was afraid of everything, but four years of studying in Russia changed me for the better.
– What kind of education did you get in Uzbekistan?
– I have a secondary professional education. I studied to be a bank employee. In general, I have several specialties, if you look at my diploma, but I call myself "bank employee" because this term includes everything: accounting and finance.
– What influenced your choice of specialty?
– To be honest, when I was choosing a college, I didn't know where to enroll until the last moment. I didn't know who I wanted to be in the future, I couldn't find myself. As a result, my mother visited with me different colleges: we were told about the specialties, the possibilities of the profession and the advantages of studying. When we arrived at the College of Economics, we talked to the dean and he told me a little about the learning process. I liked it so much that I decided to stay in economics. Over time, I realized that this is really my field, it is interesting to me and I see myself in it in the future. During my college studies, management was among the special subjects. And it somehow hooked me, it seemed to me that this was an interesting direction for development and work in the future. In addition, management has gathered in itself just a little bit of what I learned. This is a very interesting and complex direction.
– Of the subjects that you are studying now, which ones do you like the most and why?
– Most of all, probably, I like finance and financial management. There was a subject where we studied investment and investment management, it was also very interesting. And so, in general, all subjects are interesting and fascinating in their own way. Especially economic ones, they are very useful in life.
– How do you plan to apply this knowledge in the future? Will you continue studying for a master's degree or will you go to work right away?
– Initially, I wanted to continue my master's degree, but at the moment I think it needs to wait a bit. First I want to start a professional career and gain practical experience. I have already got a job at our university, at the Center for Professional Training of Foreign Students. I speak English well and I want my work to help improve my knowledge of the language. Thanks to this, I have the opportunity to communicate with different people from different countries.
– You are a curator in the employment promotion program. Tell us a little about the program itself and what do you do as a mentor?
– Yes, I was a mentor. The Employment Assistance Program is a federal project aimed at retraining specialists. I supervised the group, conducted documentary support, solved organizational issues, communicated with listeners and advised them.
– You were also a volunteer at the WorldSkills championships. Tell me, how did you decide to do volunteer work as well?
– Everything turned out very spontaneously. I studied at the school of staff reserve and I was offered to be a volunteer at the championship. I didn't know about the championships at all, what they were doing and what I had to do, because I had never been a volunteer before, but I really wanted to try myself in this role. The school of staff reserve in general gave me a lot. I opened up, became more confident, now I can go somewhere without fear and understand that being a beginner is normal.
– As a foreign student, you attend the events of the Center for the Adaptation of Foreign Students. But you are not just a participant, but a mentor. How did you come to this?
– In fact, everything turned out spontaneously here, too. In my life, a lot of things happen spontaneously. I became a mentor because I wanted to support other students, help them, and because the duties of a mentor are much broader than the duties of a participant.
– And what else is included in the duties of a mentor?
– The most interesting thing that can be called my duty as a curator is communication. I have always dreamed of going to university, where I will study together with people from other countries. This is a valuable exchange of experience and culture. But it didn't work out that way for me. Only after I became a mentor at the Center for the Adaptation of Foreign Students, I found many foreign friends and began to apply my knowledge of English. Then I realized that communication and helping other students is my field.
– Speaking about the exchange of cultures, how would you describe your culture and traditions to people who do not know the culture of Uzbekistan?
– In fact, our culture is quite specific. People in Uzbekistan are very friendly and welcoming, they will always come to the rescue. I really like the fact that young people have been taught to respect adults since childhood. When I came to Russia, I felt a sharp contrast between the mentalities of our countries. Here, in Russia, respect for adults is shown to a lesser extent than in Uzbekistan, and this is a little unusual for me.
– What are your impressions of Russia?
– Everything is much freer in Russia. In Uzbekistan, the mentality probably affects, especially for girls. We are put in a rather rigid framework: girls should be able to cook, dress modestly and should not lead a particularly active lifestyle. In Russia, it's much easier in this regard, and I really like that there are no rigid frameworks that are put in front of you as a child. Of course, to a large extent everything depends on the family in which you grew up, but in most Uzbek families there are such restrictions.
– Were there any difficulties that you encountered here?
– The first thing I still remember very brightly was the problem with the bank card. I didn't know how to use an ATM, my parents used to solve my financial issues. And it all came as a big shock to me when I started living on my own. So, the ATM "swallowed" my mother's card and I didn't know what to do. The first thing that came to my mind was to block the card, but it had to be pulled out somehow. It turned out that this could not be done, since I was not the owner of the card. And all the money my parents gave me was on it. At that moment, I just had to pay for the hostel and other expenses. I experienced a lot of stress then.
There were no more such obvious difficulties. There were many minor problem. It seemed to me that my knowledge of the Russian language was not enough, that I was speaking incorrectly and I had an accent. Over time, I realized that this was not true and I made it up. In fact, I'm still an alarmist by nature.
– And how do you spend your free time?
– I meet friends, we get together in restaurants, play board games or go to each other's houses. In our company we are all from different countries and we are very interested in spending time together. Sometimes I walk my friends' dog, we walk it together. Of course, I also participate in events from the Center for the Adaptation of Foreign Students or work. I'm trying to combine all this together.
– Do you have any new hobbies ?
– I can't say so. Before moving, I had more hobbies, I really loved embroidery. But right now I just don't have time for it, there are too many daily activities. Of course, I want to return to this hobby and I think that as soon as I have time, I will definitely take up embroidery again.
– What advice would you give to other students who want to study abroad?
– The most important advice is not to be afraid. Go to your goal, no matter what, because all problems and difficulties can be solved. Yes, Fear hath a hundred eyes. But you just need to boldly go to the intended goal, act and make every possible effort for this.