I loved to draw from an early age. My parents sent me to an art school, and this is my fondest childhood memory. At first I was not very successful. But in a few years I already had good results. I remember how, during the summer practice, the teacher came up and praised me. It was incredibly pleasant and meant that I did learn to draw. I was very proud of myself.
The war brought changes to our peaceful life
. We lived in Donetsk. In addition to me, my parents raised a younger sister and an older brother. Mom had a fitness business. Dad also ran a business. Therefore, there were never any problems with finances. In addition, our parents really tried hard for us and helped us with our studies.
I could never believe that my parents would ever divorce. But this is life and different things happen.It turned out that dad was cheating with a close friend of the family. This became the reason. We took the divorce of our parents very painfully.
It was 2014, the war was beginning in the east. One night, the younger sister heard shots, got very scared and woke up her mother. She burst into tears and could not say anything. My brother and I were not woken up, but everything was told in the morning. As we later found out, they were shooting in a neighboring village.
Mom immediately decided to take us from Donetsk. Together with my younger sister, we moved to Lviv. Brother stayed with dad and his new wife.
We started a new life in a new city. My
sister and I were not afraid of moving, on the contrary, we wanted to go to Lviv. We dreamed about this city, because we saw it only in photographs. Therefore, I was not at all bitter when we left our native Donetsk.
And it was a very difficult period for my mother. She could not pull herself together for a long time. She had health problems, depression and stress. I can only now imagine how difficult it was for my mother to go alone with the children to a new city where you hardly know anyone. Now our life has improved, and I believe that my mother did everything right.
The first time we lived in a dormitory. We were given a nice little room that we didn’t pay for. My mother’s friend took care of this. But when my mother found a job, we moved from there. In half a year, we moved 3 more times. Of course, it was inconvenient to travel back and forth. But after a few years, we already lived in a permanent apartment.
I went to the result in small steps
Over time, she found good friends. I went to the Lviv school in the 6th grade. My classmates accepted me very well. They even taught Lviv words that I didn’t know before. It may seem funny, but these words “sandwich”, “pan”, “winter” were really new to me. It was also easy with the language, because in Donetsk I went to a Ukrainian-language school, for which I am grateful to my parents. There was no discrimination that I am an oriental woman.
Together with my sister, we visited the crisis center in Lviv. I am very glad that we got there. There were kids there with much worse family situations than mine. I realized that everything was not as bad as it seemed. Other children’s parents were addicted to smoking and alcohol. They were beaten and abused, and the children ran away from home and lived on the street. There are far worse situations than just divorced parents.
Several times I had conflicts with other children from the crisis center. They humiliated me, and I took everything very close to my heart. This turned into a lot of self-doubt. I struggled with it for quite some time. My mother helped me a lot, supported me and shared her own experience.
I was also very inspired and supported to meet new interesting people. I participated in various camps, and also signed up for an English language course. It was necessary to step over oneself, to speak, even in a foreign language. Each time it became easier, and I saw my small successes. And at the end of the training, I looked around and saw just a huge result! Thanks to this, I realized that I am completely normal and I am becoming more confident in myself, I can express myself freely. In fact, no one can help you if you don’t want to change yourself.
I realized that I want to help other children
. The educators at the center also helped us. They invited psychologists and people who could support us. All this pushed me to the point that I also wanted to work with children and somehow help them.
Now I have a part-time job: I prepare children for school and deal with their general development. I want to continue this business. There is a demand and I know how to develop this direction even better.
And I’m still studying to be a designer. The truth is, I am not sure that I will become one. I really like to work with my hands, and now designing is all in the computer. I don’t like it. But I like to draw, so I want to develop in this. I dream of my own small business. After graduation, of course.
I have known the volunteers of “Care in Action” for 3 years. And I want to say a huge “thank you” to them for everything they did for us. Looking at them, I also want to help others from the bottom of my heart! Their camps, classes, conversations – it all bears fruit. Perhaps not immediately noticeable, but with a great impact on children. I am glad that we have a volunteer team and we help other children together.
Now I try to catch the moment.
If I could change something in my past, I would be less lazy. Now I understand how much time I wasted on computer games and TV. Therefore, I try to use my time with benefit and am open to all possibilities. Because time flies fast.
There are people around me who know much more, read more, easily tell interesting stories and make witty jokes. I don’t want to fall behind and I want to be the same.
Even if you are from a family in crisis, it’s not the end of the world. You need to understand that everything depends only on you. You will grow up and stand on your own two feet if you want it yourself. The main thing is to find yourself and understand what you want to achieve. And also just start doing something. It is difficult, but the first step must be taken. And when you do, then it will be easier. Life will give you the right people and the best opportunities.
Just know you are not alone!
Anya
*Name and photo have been changed for security purposes
