FOREIGNER-HEADMAN? EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN BNTU! INTERVIEW WITH THE FIRST FOREIGN HEADMAN AT THE BELARUSIAN NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
With the permission of the Times BNTU, we publish an interview with the first foreigner-headman - Nursakhadov Nursakhat. The guy came from Turkmenistan, the city of Ashgabat, entered the Sports and Technical Faculty of the Belarusian National Technical University and is already studying in the 3rd year. Among other things, he is officially the head of the group 11904116.
What did we learn from the interview?
Nursakhat graduated from high school in 2013, then he got a job and spent several years as a waiter, then became a cashier, later a cook.
How did I get into the BNTU?
My story related to BNTU began on the day when my own sister got married. My uncle noticed my potential and suggested to my mother: "Let's send him to study abroad."
Then came the choice of a place where I could get a decent education. We were looking for something good, free, whose education is valued, and Belarus turned out to be such a place. I also chose Belarus because my cousin studied here. We considered a paid basis for training, but then we accidentally learned about a special university that can help you get a free education. Okay, it's not completely free - my state pays for me. The whole family liked the idea, but at that time I did not even think that I would get into the BNTU.
Like all the young people, I learned about engineering education in the best technical university in Belarus, and started Googling where it is and what BNTU is. When I realized that I could study in the center of Minsk, I was very happy. I thought that I was a real lucky person.
I had to face a lot of fears
But everything does not happen so smoothly: people started scaring me that I’ll not get it, it is very difficult and strict there, I will need to know everything, otherwise I will be expelled. One person even asked if I could name Newton's law. I said that the theory is not so good, but I know the formula. I was told that this does not work and my deduction will not have to wait long. On that terrible day, I went with the thought that everything was in vain and nothing would work, but I met my mother at home, who calmed me down. She said that since I've always loved studying, I can handle it. As you can see, I'm already in my third year, and I've never been on the verge of being expelled.
The path of becoming
After arriving in Minsk in October (not September, because the invitation was a little late), I was already met at the airport by the former deputy dean of Gorodkovets Sergey Valeryevich, he even hired me a minibus. It was so nice (smiles).
He settled, like most foreign students, in the 15 hostel on the “Borisovsky tract”. But even in such an environment, I kept being told that learning was very difficult, almost impossible. And, frankly, it was scary. Therefore, out of excitement, I went to retake the first exam. I still remember this engineering graphic. I didn't know anything yet, so I asked my groupmate for help. She helped me a lot, for which I am still grateful to her. Then we started to communicate well with her. After some time, she became the headman and offered to become her deputy.
Recently, she left, or rather, decided to transfer to ATF. And now I have been performing her duties for 3 months. One day I was invited to a meeting where one of the questions was my, then not yet official, position. The majority of those present were clearly against my candidacy. They said that foreign students, especially those studying on a paid basis, simply cannot perform such duties. But I told them that I entered on a budget basis, that is, my state pays for me. Then I asked the vice rector: "Can I be the headman?". He agreed, and I've been officially in charge of my group ever since.
Why do I enjoy being a headman?
One of the reasons is a reason to learn better. Because even in comparison with the first year, my average score has grown very much. And it is difficult to find a better motivation than a high score, and therefore a greater amount of assimilable knowledge. The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As in the life of any person, not everyone was happy about my appointment as headman. There were those who could be envious. But this is absolutely normal. During my work in the cafe, there were good people, there were bad people - everything is as it should be in life - and you get used to it. And in the course of training, it became clear that my group is very good. For example, if one of my classmates gets a higher score than me, I will be happy. After all, this affects the rating of the entire group, which means that I, as the headman, will even be pleased. After all, these people came specifically to study.
Do foreigners get specially inflated points?
I was even once told that foreigners are specially given high scores, but this is not true. Everyone is rated for knowledge, and this is evident, because we have 4 foreign students in our group and everyone is evaluated differently. So, once in political science, I, like all students, sat, listened, answered questions. Until one day the teacher asked with great curiosity: "How do I know Russian at such a good level?". Some teachers even praise my handwriting sometimes. Splendid, what else to say. But it all started with the fact that at the school where I studied, our headman (in our motherland calls KLASSK) had a surprisingly neat and understandable handwriting. I wanted to do the same. Now I can officially say that I am proud of my handwriting. And even in those moments when I write in Russian.
Love for the Russian language from an early age
Russian is almost my native language, because most of my childhood was spent playing various active games in the yard. There were a very large number of Russians in my area. One of the games I liked was playing school. That is, we are students, and one Russian guy is a teacher. He told us about the Russian words that exist. Then for the first time I learned how to decipher such words as TYS and USA. I also had very good teachers of Russian language at a secondary school. One day one of them called my mother and said: "Your son is very fond of studying, send him abroad to get a higher education." And so after the first year, when I came home, I met her, and I said that her faith in me helped a lot.
Active life is not only in the group
In the social life at the faculty, I am always happy to do something, to help in some cases, because I have enough free time. And I am pleased when I manage to express myself in some way. For example, last year we managed to participate in the Spring of the BNTU. I was offered a small episode at STAM by some senior students I knew. I agreed and did not regret it. Although the role was not so significant, but it was still a pleasure to help the guys on stage. Also, I took a part in music competitions. There was even a story about how I had to perform two songs. But there were no rehearsals, and naturally, this affected the performance. It's still a shame to remember the first song, as I didn't hit a single note (Laughs). But regarding the song "Chumachechaya Vesna" - the whole hall applauded me. It was very pleasant.
After studying, I want to return home to Ashgabat. After all, for me, as a Muslim, the main thing is family. Especially my mother, who is worried and often wants to see her son at home.
So how to become a headman?
Be a good person, striving for knowledge, and then a little more doors will open for you on the way to success. Love your studies and respect not only yourself, but also the people who want to develop.
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