1. In myopinion,the mostvaluable goal whichIachievedwasenteringthe universityinFinland. Tobegin
with,whenIwentto highschool I alreadyknew thatIwant to connectmy life withbusinessor
economics.Andsopriorto finishinghighschool Ihave startedtosearchfor a universitywhere Iwill
studyfor myBachelorDegree.AtfirstI have had planstostudyin Russia,butlaterI’ve decidedtotry
applyingabroadandI’ve succeeded. Tobeginwith,the factthatI am originally fromRussiameansthat
it isharderto enterthe universityabroadthanitisfor my Europeanfriends.
I knewthat examswouldnotbe simple,soIhadto start preparingforthemhalf a year inadvance.I
have had to pass the IELTS examforuniversitiesinFinland.AsIwasenrolled inschool withintensive
studyingof Englishlanguage,thereweren’talotof difficultieswiththe Englishpartof exam, even
thoughthe material level washigherthanthe one we have had inschool.InadditionIhave knowna
teacherfromuniversitythatpreparedstudentsforIELTSexamand she wasgenerousenoughtoshare
the examination listsfromthe previousyearssothatit wouldhelpme toprepare forthe upcoming
entrance exam.The IELTS examsseemedtobe difficultbecausewe hadtoanalyze graphsandtablesbut
aftertwo months of hard-work Istartedto get 8 pointsoutof 9 on previousIELTS examsandstartedto
feel more confidentinmyself.IELTSincludes4differentparts,suchas:reading,listening,grammarand
speaking.
Aftersuccessful passingIELTS,Ibeganto prepare forthe universityentrance examinations,which
includesbusinessmathematics,logictasksand testfromthe business book,whichapplicantshadto
readbefore. Icalculatedvariousmathematical andlogical tasks,readandlearnbusinessbookabout
FiskarsCompany,simplysaidIhave done everythingthatwouldhelpme passthe entrance examination.
At the same time I’ve hadgraduationexamsinhighschool inRussiaandunfortunatelytheywere
importantto me too andbecause of that I’ve hadto prepare for themtoo,as a resultI couldnot spend
as much time preparingforthe entrance examinationsasI wantedinthe firstplace.Examinationday
was reallystressful asIwas notsure that I’ve passedthe exam, eventhoughIfeltpreparedforit.
Because eventhoughIknewthatI didmost of the taskscorrectly, I knew thatthere were otherstudents
whocouldhave write itbetterand the entrance pointswouldbe higherthanI’ve expected.However,
the most stressful thingwasthatI’ve hadto waitfor the answerforalmosttwomonthswithout
knowingif I’ve gotintouniversityornot,at some pointI evendecidedtoapplyforaRussianuniversity.
But inthe endwhen the summercame I’ve gotan email aboutmyacceptance in twodifferent
universities,inRussiaandinFinland.I’ve startedtoseriouslydoubtmyown intentionof studying
abroad,but aftera fewthoughtful hoursI’ve decidedtomove toFinlandasthe level of studyingwas
more professional andIthoughtthatit wouldbe a greatexperience forme.
AftermovingtoFinlandandstartingto studyI’ve noticedhow mylife turnedforthe better.I’ve started
to studymore and it gotme motivatedtostudyas itwas neededforme inthe firstplace andnot for
anybodyelse.
Later on I evendecidedtotrymyself outforan exchange.Ihave appliedforasingle universityin
Swedenanddideverythingwhatwasinmypowersto getaccepted.Inthe end,Iwas acceptedto the
UppsalaUniversity.