I was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine—a city I loved very much. At 16, my life revolved around school and my passion for archery. But in 2014, everything changed. War crept closer to my home, filling the air with uncertainty and fear. It became clear that it wasn’t safe to stay, so I made the tough call to move to Poland. The hardest part? Leaving behind my anchor—my family. Their support was everything. But suddenly, that support system only existed through a screen. No more warm hugs, no more shared meals, just phone calls and messages that never quite replaced their presence.
When I first arrived in Poland, I felt alone, as if I had stepped into a world where I didn’t belong. The language barrier made everything more difficult—making friends, understanding lessons, and even simple conversations. I was afraid to speak, afraid people would laugh at my mistakes. But when I finally worked up the courage, I was met with kindness. People didn’t mock me; they encouraged me. This gave me the motivation to keep learning, to keep trying, and to believe that I could find my place in this new world.