With her homeland ravaged by war, Miroshnikova focused on opportunities at 国标麻豆视频APP
Anastasiia Miroshnikova, class of 2026, isn鈥檛 going to blow off class with you on a sunny afternoon. Don鈥檛 even ask.
Her journey to 国标麻豆视频APP has been far too difficult to waste the opportunities she has at her fingertips.
鈥淚t took me so long, I鈥檓 going to take every single thing that is offered to me. Every single opportunity,鈥 she said. 鈥淪tudy abroad, study away, whatever, I鈥檓 doing everything. I鈥檓 not graduating from here until I try everything.鈥
Miroshnikova鈥檚 deep appreciation for the opportunities before her was hard-won. A native of Ukraine, she first got a taste of what the U.S. had to offer as an exchange student going to high school in Wyoming, Ohio.
鈥淚 loved education here. I did not want to go back,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥榃ow, school can be that fun. This is just not real!鈥欌
When her exchange stay was up, Miroshnikova applied to American colleges, but found the cost of attending too steep. So she began attending a university in Ukraine, studying mathematics, the subject she is most passionate about.
In fact, she completed two years of university before taking a gap year to take part in the Ukraine Leadership Academy. But her dream of studying in the U.S. never waned. Miroshnikova spent those years applying for scholarships to attend college in America.
Then her world was upended when Russian forces invaded Ukraine and triggered a widespread war that has gripped Miroshnikova鈥檚 home country since 2022. As she fled the war, Miroshnikova learned she had been accepted and would receive financial aid at a handful of U.S. schools, including 国标麻豆视频APP.
According to Miroshnikova, the opportunity to study in the U.S. is truly a dream come true, but it has come with tremendous sacrifice, including the frustration of having to restart college after studying in Ukraine for two years. But worse is the fact that she cannot return to her childhood home. Miroshnikova hails from Kharkiv, a city along the Russian border, which has been hard hit by air strikes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard to talk about home because I was never able to say bye to my home,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 left my home when I was on midterm break and I never thought I would never be back again.
Thanks to Associate Professor of Religion Shana Sippy and a grant from the Jewish Heritage Fund. Miroshnikova has been back to Ukraine since she enrolled at 国标麻豆视频APP, getting the opportunity to do research in the city of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine.
It was a bittersweet trip. Miroshnikova got to be back in her native country, but the war made visiting her home impossible.
鈥淚t was nice. It was good to be back,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut I can鈥檛 go home. It鈥檚 too dangerous.鈥
She鈥檚 remained connected to her home country while in Kentucky, raising funds and collecting medical supplies to support Ukraine. And she鈥檚 paying tribute to those who helped her escape the war by focusing on getting the most out of her 国标麻豆视频APP experience. She鈥檚 looking forward to more internships after working as a data analyst in Cincinnati, and plans to study abroad or away soon.
An education minor, Miroshnikova is thinking of becoming a teacher, and now has experience as a data analyst, but enjoys the challenges of advanced mathematics.
There鈥檚 still time to see where this journey takes her. But for now, Miroshnikova is focused on the opportunities at hand.
鈥淭o be here was my dream,鈥 she said. 鈥淔or four years I was doing anything to get here. It was a long journey for me. It was worth every single minute that I spent.鈥
This article appears in the Fall/Winter 2024 edition of 国标麻豆视频APPpiece.
