Studying Russian Language turned me into a calculated risk-taker and a master communicator. Thought I don't actively use the language, the skills pertaining to thoughtful communication and connecting with others have proven crucial to the field of fundraising and development. Studying abroad also taught me so much about trusting myself above everything else. Navigating a foreign country where my mother tongue was not the standard forced me to be vulnerable in a way I have never experienced. Being so vulnerable and out of my comfort zone allowed me the space to reckon with myself and learn what my true values were. I also had to really trust my gut, more than I ever had to before, and this prepared me for more than just my career, it prepared me for life.
