The Shore

The following section of my GE UE portfolio will outline how my first year of University shaped my character development .

Kyrgyzstan Landscape

Walking towards the Shore...

With the penultimate years of my schooling conducted in Kyrgyzstan being the most landlocked country in the world , I only found it appropriate to describe the first stage as "the shore."

This is because after being on land and in my school for 12 years , the discovery of water and the sea's shore seems like walking towards endless opportunities and experiences. This metaphor is extended to the impression I had before embarking on my University Journey , where I would have total freedom to build my own experiences and the life I wish to live for the next 50 years.

However before we embark on my first year and initial university experience we must explore the following question:

Why EDUHK?

FINANCE

TRAVEL

UNIVERSITY LIFE!

Studying in Hong Kong would have proven to be a unique and unparalleled opportunity to study my degree Business, Accounting and Financial Studies in the global financial hub. I sought after internship opportunities at the big investment banks, network with like-minded people who were interested in Finance as well as utilize the pedagogical nature of my degree at EDUHK in order to develop my presentation skills and teaching my future clients about new financial products on road tours. Learning to teach is one of the most practical life skills to learn and serves as the fundamental block in achieving success, because teaching effectively requires clear communication.

I was blessed enough to have travelled to 28 countries by the time I was 18 years old, the age when I enrolled into University. However, I seldom explored South East Asia and Hong Kong seemed like the perfect location to travel to these countries and visit all the South East Asian Countries by the time I graduate in my 5th year.

The media we have absorbed throughout our lives, as well as anecdotes from our elders, present a picture of university life as the most fun time of one's life, where it appears to be a social life every day. That there will be a lot of parties, social gatherings, and enjoyable moments all the time.

Adapting to University Life

Global Perspectives

Born as a third culture kid (being raised outside my parents culture) to multiracial parents is an unorthodox beginning, by any measure.

My father is part-Indian, part-Persian and my mother is part-Belarusian, part-Polish, the cultural medley has its perks, multilingual at the tender age of two is a head start on most.

Growing up in a multicultural environment benefits a child with a greater understanding of others beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors; this has contributed greatly to my higher interpersonal and social skills. I was schooled in Dubai, the Mecca of both modern materialism and multiculturalism. I can recall countless occasions seated in a classroom with my fellow students easily comprised of more than a dozen nationalities, religions, cultures, and ethnicities. The inevitable rub off is one of the most valuable lessons it taught me , embrace diversity.

I credit my amazing parents who raised me to believe 'different is good'. As my father often posited , travel is a great educator , so we were fortunate to travel extensively.

My background has served as an advantage in my first year of University where I was able to adapt to the Hong Kong culture, learn about its history and its society,

A single place that I can call ‘home’ has never existed — the world, and its countless cultures, is where I find solace.

Problem Solving Skills

After moving out of my home I realized how I took for granted how peaceful and easy my life is at home. As an "adult" there are hundreds of decisions that you have to make on a daily basis and with that comes problems. For example, one major problem I faced when arriving to Hong Kong was that I was not granted a hall space. As a result, I had no place to stay in Hong Kong and had to sort out accommodation for the semester. It was easy to get flustered in the moment and panic. However, it was through maintaining calm, being rational and having faith in God that you will find a solution to solve the issue. I may have not come to a solution immediately, however through reaching out to my academic support staff and meeting with members of GAO and SAO , I was able to secure a hall space for the semester. What I try to keep in mind is that I have solved all the problems in my life before, so I will solve the next one as well. There is no point in getting overwhelmed , but to try and deal with the issue as you see fit.

My father always taught me not to wish for less problems, but more tools to solve the problems.

Also a minor problem , we students face everyday!

Social Interaction Skills

Being so far away from my family for the first time, I look to my friends for trying to find a home in Hong Kong. It is true what they say that it is the people that make a house a home.

In my first year of University , it was a struggle to find meaningful friendships. I felt that no matter how many people I interact with a day at the end of the day I felt lonely and alone.

However, through time I found people that I share common values , interests and hobbies with and these people added colour to my University life.

More importantly, every person that I met , even if there may have been negative interactions taught me something. If we are open to learning, everyone we encounter in life has something to teach us. Our development as human beings depends not only on what we do and how we shape our ideas and behaviors, but also on the lessons we pick up from others around us. Providing, however, that we have the desire to develop and learn.

Lessons I learnt from my friends...

Akbermet

I learnt the importance of treating with respect and kindness, because it is easy to be mean but it is difficult to treat people nicely.

Temirlan

I learnt to not take life so seriously and stress about the small things in life. At the end of the day what is destined for you will be yours. So enjoy the journey.

Bekarys

I learnt to appreciate the smaller and finer things in life. To incorporate passion and things I enjoy doing everyday to make life more enjoyable.

Galymzhan

I learnt to take control of ones life and build your own experiences, such as learning about things that interest you and pursuing your goals day by day consistently.

Ethical Decision Making Skills

Having grown up in a middle eastern society for most of my life, there were very few ethical decisions I had to make with regards to my personal ethics, morals and values.

It was the first time in Hong Kong that I would have to decide on participating in activities that may undermine my personal values.

For example, my faith prohibits the consumption of alcohol, however unlike the UAE, it is the norm to meet up with friends for casual drinks, consume alcohol at parties and use it to socialize. When you see everyone around you having fun , it requires strong self-discipline to abstain from participating .

In the beginning, it was difficult to come to terms with because there was a fear of missing out , however, I realized that I do not need alcohol in order to let loose, become more confident or have fun - the advantages echoed from my friends. Rather, I can enjoy activities, have meaningful conversations and build memories through other activities such as hiking, visiting museums and just having a nice chat over coffee!

Therefore, maintaining my values and morals in an environment where it is so tempting to give in to ones desires has taught me the importance of ethical decision making according to my own ethics.

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