"My name is Mariia, and last year I became a student at Ipswich School.

I’m from Kyiv, Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia started a full-scale military invasion of my homeland. The situation became increasingly unstable, and it was no longer safe to live there. My family decided to leave home, and for me, it meant starting a completely new chapter in my life.

I had to make new friends, attend a new school, and strive to live a normal life as I did at home. I felt depressed and terrified. However, when I found out that I had been accepted to Ipswich School, I decided to give it a try and do my best because, as a Ukrainian, I understand the importance of remaining resilient and continuously improving myself. Education has always been valued in my family, and I know that without knowledge and skills, I will not be able to advocate for peace and justice.

I entered Year 12 in September of 2022 and decided to study politics, economics, and business. In the Ukrainian educational school system, we don’t have any of these subjects, so I was thrilled to learn a new field of information. Even though I had never studied in an entirely English environment before, it didn’t feel like it at all.

All my teachers have been very supportive of me, and I greatly appreciate it. I have also made new friends, and I am always trying to improve my social and communication skills. Sometimes the studies can be challenging, but I know that I have enough support from my teachers and peers, and I can solve any kind of problem.

It is still sad for me to be far away from home, but I know that after graduating from Ipswich School, I will be able to work towards making our world a better place. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to study here. Thank you."

Mariia

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