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What I would like to tell you about Russia.
I live in Russia and I suppose it won’t be platitudinous to admit that I’m proud of it. Actually, I’m thankful to my motherland for the fact that she gives me the possibility to reveal my abilities and lead an interesting life.
I would like to tell you about myself as I believe that my story can be an example of a common life in Russia. Common? Oh no, life of every man is unique! That’s why it’s of interest for ourselves and for others.
I was born in Moscow. The rhythm and dynamics of this city determined the pace of my life from its very beginning. I went to school when I was 5. By that age I have been able to read for 3 years and my mother decided that I was quite ready for the next stage of my intellectual development.
Frankly speaking, I hardly reckon how my life changed then. I know only that from that moment on it became full of activities. In the ex-USSR there was a broad range of after-school activities. I began to visit piano and choreography classes at school.
Moreover, there was an experiment in our school: all first-year pupils learned to play chess as it was a comprehensive subject. In a year our chess teacher gave advice to some kids (I was among them) to visit extra chess classes. Since that time I devoted all my free time to chess and music. These classes got even more serious. During my 3rd year at school I started to visit music school, thus concerts and competitions in music and chess became part and parcel of my life. The process of preparing for it took much time. 4 years later I had to choose. Despite my success in chess (1st prize in Moscow’s competition – teams; 5th prize – single) I opted for music. Even then the possibility of creation excited my imagination. I resumed my choreography classes which I had given up 4 years before.
I can’t but mention my dear class. Thanks to our tutor there was a warm, friendly and creative mood there. She took us to theatres, museums, picnics and other cities, arranged parties with shows, games, contests and dances. After middle school most of us entered different colleges and lyceums. But till nowadays we have maintained our friendship and meetings at least once a year.
It was then when my life also changed. I made up my mind to enter Gnesins’ musical college. It required hard efforts from me (I had to practice my piano 6 hours per day), from my parents (their moral and material support) and from my teachers (extra classes).
I did it. I was accepted. It was my first exam in the life of grown-ups. Indeed the college became for me not only the school of music but also the school of life. There were no longer children’s games but serious and creative work and communication with people of the artistic world, each of them having its own, sometimes alienated to your own, inner world.
All was perfect: I studied with zeal, my communication with professors and friends proceeded smoothly, I participated in concerts and intended to enter Moscow Conservatory on finishing college. During my 3rd year I practiced a lot as I was to take part in an international piano contest. But all of a sudden my hands failed me! I couldn’t move my fingers because of pain – my muscles were overstrained. In two weeks I was able to play again but some grave concern crept into my heart: when such an accident befalls your hands it can repeat any time. What will happen to me if I fail to enter Conservatory?
In general I try to have an optimistic view but at that time my self-assurance and my belief in life stumbled. I realized that not everything depends on our lust and industriousness. Sometimes circumstances defeat us. And then my mom backed and guided me.
I had learned English from my 1st year at school and German from the 5th. I really liked it as I believe that through the knowledge of the language we can better perceive the culture and mindset of other people. So, my mother suggested that I try to pass admission exams to the Moscow State Linguistic University. Going through the tests I would have learned what I would have to stand a year later in case something went wrong with my music studies.
And I was so amazed when I got to know that I had been accepted to the MSLU. I wondered if I should be glad or sad. I still had to end the last year in college and I couldn’t miss the University (While so many aspirants try to enter it sometimes for several years running). Fortunately, my college helped me: our headmistress who knew me quite well allowed me to have a free time-table. And all that year I kept running from college to university and vice versa. It was really difficult but very interesting.
Now the University plays the main role in my life. I study 4 foreign languages: English, Spanish, German and Italian. My profile subject is International relations. I’m interested in politics and history. Having participated in the Moscow UN model, I began to study this organization and want to deepen my research.
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Labiouk Olga
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