91传媒

I was born in听Moscow,听Russia听and I鈥檓 Chechen.听When I was about 2, I lived in听Belgium听for two years with my family before moving听back to听Moscow.听I听then听lived in听Los Angeles听for a year and returned听to听Moscow听to finish high school.听听

I鈥檇 always dreamed of studying at an American university and听I liked how AUP听allowed听you to find yourself听as it helped you听understand what you really wanted and taught you how to听think critically.听When I first arrived, I听was sure that I wanted to study听International Business Administration but soon saw that my real interests lay in finance and understanding cultures unlike my own, which is why I鈥檓 now double majoring in听International Finance听and听Middle East Pluralities.听听

One of my favorite classroom moments took place听in 鈥淪ituating the听Middle East鈥� with Professor听Ziad听Majed.听For a presentation about the food of the听Middle East, one student had cooked a variety of dishes for us and as we ate, discussed the history and meaning of each one. Afterwards, we all stayed to keep talking and听I realized that I鈥檇 never before experienced such a friendly cultural environment.

I began horseback riding while at AUP and am now captain of the Equestrian team. I鈥檇 never听done anything like that before and was encouraged to try by the fact that any student is welcome to join any team听here.听I鈥檝e also worked as a chief student worker at the Athletics Office,听where I learned a great deal and had a great time, including on a trip to听Rome听where all of听AUP鈥檚听teams competed听in the听Euroroma听Tournament. I鈥檓 also Treasurer of听Baytna听脿听Vous,听a student-led volunteer initiative that focuses on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. We鈥檝e organized workshops for kids as well as a concert where, with the help of听Souria听Houria, we raised over 1500听euros.

I love听how AUP听galvanizes听us听to participate in outside activities while giving back to our own听community and to others. Being here has completely changed me: I鈥檝e become more听ambitious, more aware of what鈥檚 happening in the world, and more creative.听You can discover so much in听Paris听because on top of French culture, you鈥檙e also exposed to听the wealth of languages and听cultures that make up the many different sides of the city.听Add to that听AUP鈥檚听own听commitment to diversity and cultural insight, and you鈥檒l听soon听see how听AUP and Paris听complement and enhance each other.听听

听