������

I was born in Moscow, Russia and I’m Chechen. When I was about 2, I lived in Belgium for two years with my family before moving back to Moscow. I then lived in Los Angeles for a year and returned to Moscow to finish high school.  

I’d always dreamed of studying at an American university and I liked how ������ allowed you to find yourself as it helped you understand what you really wanted and taught you how to think critically. When I first arrived, I was sure that I wanted to study International Business Administration but soon saw that my real interests lay in finance and understanding cultures unlike my own, which is why I’m now double majoring in International Finance and Middle East Pluralities.  

One of my favorite classroom moments took place in “Situating the Middle East” with Professor Ziad Majed. For a presentation about the food of the Middle East, one student had cooked a variety of dishes for us and as we ate, discussed the history and meaning of each one. Afterwards, we all stayed to keep talking and I realized that I’d never before experienced such a friendly cultural environment.

I began horseback riding while at ������ and am now captain of the Equestrian team. I’d never done anything like that before and was encouraged to try by the fact that any student is welcome to join any team here. I’ve also worked as a chief student worker at the Athletics Office, where I learned a great deal and had a great time, including on a trip to Rome where all of ������’s teams competed in the Euroroma Tournament. I’m also Treasurer of Baytna à Vous, a student-led volunteer initiative that focuses on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. We’ve organized workshops for kids as well as a concert where, with the help of Souria Houria, we raised over 1500 euros.

I love how ������ galvanizes us to participate in outside activities while giving back to our own community and to others. Being here has completely changed me: I’ve become more ambitious, more aware of what’s happening in the world, and more creative. You can discover so much in Paris because on top of French culture, you’re also exposed to the wealth of languages and cultures that make up the many different sides of the city. Add to that ������’s own commitment to diversity and cultural insight, and you’ll soon see how ������ and Paris complement and enhance each other.