“When I start something new, I am really into it”
Tilburg University is a melting pot full of interesting people. Student Rebekka Rohe finds and portraits them. Today: Anastasia Semenko (24), the daughter of entrepreneurs, who grew up in Kiev before coming to Tilburg. She is now about to finish her Masters in Strategic management.
Anastasia is a calm, yet lively young woman who is very clear in her answers. Without pushing herself in the spotlight, she answers thoughtfully and honestly. “Of course I want to achieve certain things, but normally it’s the work itself that motivates me,” she explains. This attitude can definitely give account to her history: after having studied Cultural Studies in Kiev, she was working in an Art Gallery for some time. This was where she met her present boyfriend, a Dutch photographer. “I decided to come to the Netherlands. Not only because of him but also because I wanted a more business- oriented education. Culture is my great love, but gallery work is the most you can make out of it.”
Once here, Anastasia started to study Liberal Arts and Sciences. At the moment, she is finishing her Master’s in Strategic Management. Now, Anastasia can’t wait to start working. “I have the feeling it’s time to decide on things. I’m studying since forever and it feels like I’m behind on schedule”. Is it really that bad? “I just feel so bipolar, on the one hand I see my friends from Cultural Studies who got their promotions and babies, on the other hand I notice how relaxed my classmates here are about their future and I think I shouldn’t worry too much.”
While the perceptive student plans on working in a consulting-, a start-up job or becoming self-employed, she still dreams of a small gallery on the ground floor of her house. Direct plans where that could be? “No idea, really. I just know that my boyfriend and I have to move to a country where we are both foreigners”. And surely, Anastasia will manage to do so, getting a lot of strength from her parents. “Their country fell apart and they had to start from scratch so many times. But they always went on. So, if they can do it,” she adds, “I will manage as well”.
After all, and even though Anastasia is facing times of upheaval at the moment, she knows what she wants: “One day, looking back at my life, it would be nice to know that I didn’t miss any opportunities, learned from my mistakes and listened to advice.”
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