Stories of CISC graduates. About choosing the future profession, university education and the things the graduates shouldn’t be afraid of. Nikita Scherban.

We continue to tell you the stories of our graduates. Nikita Scherban shares his thoughts about choosing the future profession, university education, adaptability and the future role as the judge in the All-Ukrainian debating tournament.

1. Why did you choose the Institute of International Relations (IIR)?

At the beginning of the 11th grade I realized I want to be engaged in the business sphere.  I like the human resources management and marketing management. But I decided to enroll at the International Business Department in the Institute of International Relations (IIR),  to embrace a broader sphere of knowledge, and after that I will select the more specific spheres that I like.

I think that the future lies with the correct and skilled management. And I am lucky to have a great example of that, my father.

2. Which skills proved to be useful in your university studies?

Communication is the skill that really helps at the moment. Right after the beginning of studies we went online, and it was really hard at first to understand the educational process and immerse into it completely and efficiently. And it was the communication skill that helped me to cope with that period and to move in the right direction.

3. Did the CISC help you with choosing your future profession?

Studies in CISc also contributed to my decision, mostly, thanks to the math. That’s why one of conditions for choosing the profession and the university was this discipline.

I enjoyed studying math with Ms. Natalia in CISC so much that I became interested in that discipline at a very serious level. Math was as reall small feast for me.

4. You finished your graduation year in online mode. Meaning that a very important period in life was affected by radical changes.  Do you think it is important for a young person nowadays to be adaptable, and what such adaptability must be like?

 

We experienced that we never now what is going to happen tomorrow. And instead of giving up, we must look for the new ways to solve the problems, and find the new creative ways for that.

We never knew there will be quarantine, and I remember that when it all started, I studied at home, but at the end of the second week I began to “go bananas” a bit. And I had to decided quickly how I want my space to be organized, in extreme conditions, when I couldn’t even go outside. It was a really stressful situation, but adaptability skill helped me to cope with that.

1. What do you think values are, and why both the big companies and separate individuals must have values?  

 

I had the experience of communicating with the representatives of the companies whose employees are guided by certain corporate values. I can say that it is really cool and it influences the total operating results of a company. If the employees are guided by common values, it helps for a single community.

It was really pleasant for me while studying in the CISC to feel the single value guideline implemented into the educational process and the school life. It could be especially felt in relations with the teachers. I have never had a situation of a teacher telling me that I am failing, or that I shouldn’t even try, or it was not my cup of tea.

When I joined the CISC, I had problems with chemistry.  But Ms. Iryna, the chemistry teacher, always helped me.  She never told me «Nikita, it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll never be good in that, just make a presentation and forget it.» Ms. Iryna always explained one more time, and then again, using different approaches, and she always believed we could make it. And it’s true – if you work a lot, and you don’t give up, and you have a good support – you can make it.

1. How does the experience you received in CISC help you now?

We have to disciplines in the university that are very close to the disciplines we studied in the CISC – the diplomatic history of Ukraine and the mathematics – and the school knowledge really helps me a lot. We were taught history very well in CISC, and it’s easier for me now to navigate in a certain historical period while we are studying diplomacy in the university

As concerns math, the studies with Ms. Natalia and the experience I received in our lessons helps me a lot. If it wasn’t for the CISC, it would be very difficult for me now to study the high math in the university.

2. The debates you often participated in are the international game format. What, in your opinion, are its advantages and importance, and how does such experience help you now? 

My university is really interested in debates, and there is even a strong debating club here. By the way, they’ve already heard about my success in debating at the time of my studies in CISC, so they offered me a place in the team.

Right after taking the first place in the All-Ukrainian debating tournament,  me and my classmate Iaroslav Malynovskyi were offered to be the judges in the All-Ukrainian debating tournament New Vision next year.

As concerns the skills that the debates, in my opinion, help to form, these are the ability to listen to someone even if you disagree. I think that one must be able to listen, and listen patiently. And then counter-argument correctly and skillfully, without offending the opponent.  And listening to someone while disagreeing is hard for many people. But not for me, because now I can listen calmly and then express my opinion.  And I think this is a top skill in my sphere of interests.

3. What the graduates shouldn’t be afraid of? What is your advice to younger colleagues?

You shouldn’t be afraid of the EIT, it’s not that scary.

You shouldn’t be afraid of the unknown, or of not knowing what you will do in the future. I have many acquaintances among the students of 10th and 11th grades, and they often write to me saying they don’t know whom they want to become in the future. And I always tell them that I didn’t know at the time, and it’s Ok.

For instance, right until the beginning of the 11th grade I thought I wanted to become a journalist. And there was a radical change afterwards. I think that you shouldn’t hurry, make yourself like something just to study it in the future.

I analyzed the matter and outlined two things I like. One of them was the debate.  And then I thought about the sphere where I can apply such skills and knowledge. And I thought that the management is just what I need. The next stage was the selection of university.

You needn’t be afraid, right things will find you in the right time.