Ekaterina Svistunova
Step by Step (SbS) program alumna Ekaterina Svistunova is 21 years old. She lives in Belarus where she combines her Master’s degree study in Analytical Economics with her job as analyst in a big company. We talked with Ekaterina about her experience with the SbS program during her school years.
Ekaterina, how was your SbS school different from the others?
I was enrolled in the SbS program from the first until the fourth grade of my school. Our class was the only one that followed that program. In our daily lessons, we had more interaction and group work than the other classes. Instead of just sitting and learning something, we learnt about a topic through different activities, or vectors. In that way it was more interesting.
After finishing the program, I continued my education in a regular class. There we were a mixed group of children, from those who were enrolled in the SbS program before and those who were not. I should say that those of us who did the SbS program were more proactive and would take more initiative than the others. For instance, we took part in many school activities like building up a scenario for our own prom. I am still friends with my former classmates from that time, and some of them remain my best friends.
What is the main lesson you learnt during the program?
I have learnt how to think critically, even in urgent situations. I live by myself for four years already, and I feel I can solve well every situation I face in my life. If I have a problem, I do not panic and I just proceed on solving it. I also think that I have a well-developed imagination because of my participation in the program.
How did the program influence your development?
I think that the program helped me to take initiative and to be proactive. I analyze a situation and then make a decision on what to do about it. At school, I always took part in the school Olympiads, and later on, during my university years, I was always attending seminars and conferences. The SbS program awarded me with the ability to express myself and to keep my personal opinion on different issues.
How did the program change you and influence your future?
Because of my proactive attitude, I have got where I am now. I am working in a great company that I like a lot. I have always been trying to achieve more, and even if I don't accomplish it, I move forward and look for more opportunities. I am convinced that this is perseverance will take me somewhere, and that is always better than doing nothing.
