Tytarenko Mariia

 

Speciality:        

 

TErm of state:

The name of the specialty in NTU GP

 

Someone wise told me before I left for Austria in 2020: “So far, you have passed many exams at university, but from now on, while you are there, you have to pass exams every single day.” 

 Of course, I agreed completely with this advice, but I have understood it much later. Studying abroad is one of the most refreshing and exciting thing students can ever do in their life! It offers a new perspective, gives a completely different view on the world, and allows students the opportunity to completely rebuild themselves. 

 Living abroad is a one-of-a-kind experience and it requires a huge amount of courage (if you are an international student or you are planning to become one and you are reading this – congratulations! You are off to a great start in life!) For one year that I have spent here, Austria have changed me completely in all aspects, as I have re-learned everything I knew about life and the choices I made. 

 My name is Maria Tytarenko and I still do not believe in my fortune to be an Erasmus + student at the wonderful Montanuniversität Leoben. Being here is a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. 

 First of all, I would like to thank all the team of the International Office in Dnipro University of Technology, that provide me all the information, needed long before the arrival and during the stay. And of course a huge Thank You to MIRO - MontanUnivesity International Relations Office, for all the events, activities, support, hiking trips, advice, help that is so important when you are an exchange student! Moreover, it was such a honor for me to become an international ambassador, to help new students and make a lot of videos, photos and write a lot of information for them. So don’t hesitate to visit MIRO Instagram: @miro_montanuni to get much more information! Even during Covid-19 pandemic we were still hanging out online and cook together! Perhaps the most terrible outcome of the pandemic was the social isolation part. And this events unite us even just a little, but it was nice! 

I never knew how important it is to regularly meet people, look into someone’s eyes and talk about things you both enjoy. I learned that I took social interactions for granted and never realized how much I would not suffer due to the absence of contact with friends. 

This is a hard truth, but our time here in this life is limited for all of us. That is why you must try your best to be kind and have patience with everyone you meet. Check on your friends, see how they are doing, encourage them, and most importantly listen. There is nothing like someone making time for you just to listen to what you have to say. 

I believe that this is one of my best semesters in my life! About professors, they are amazing. Friendly, nice and extremely well educated. The lectures very interactive, they wanted us to talk, think critically and express ourselves as we felt. We had multiple guest professors and so the ability to see/hear multiple perspectives. I am grateful to every professor and staff member with whom I had contact, because every single one of them taught me something new. 

Studying in Leoben was like a dream come true to me: It's a pleasant and peaceful place full of mountains & greenery, even the scenery from the classroom was captivating! It's a place where you just not only gain experience and friends but make great memories and family for life! I am soo inspired by the outstanding students I have met here! I'm sure that such connections will warm my heart through the whole life, because these people, now my very close friends! 

What an adventure this is! I am so happy that I got the opportunity to experience everything I’ve had in Austria. Surrounded by beautiful nature, every day feels like a vacation. The mountains are so close, that you can start a new adventure whenever you want! That is what I was trying to do, almost every day - I go for running in the mountains after long day studying. What can be better than seen a beautiful sunset on the top of the mountain? After this, you have so much energy and motivation for next days! Taking your camera and shooting amazing nature will always warm your hart even from thousand kilometers away from Austria! 

Thanks to a good scholarship and saving our money we had an opportunity to travel! And this is the most important advice I can give. Travel NOW!!! We have conditioned ourselves to think we have a lifetime, when in reality we could die at any moment. Travel teaches you more about life than any subject ever has, with memories and experiences that you can never put a price tag on, make it a priority!!! 

I still can't believe I live in this beautiful place, surrounded by the most beautiful people and nature! 

My Erasmus exchange gave me many lessons. But the most important one is: Dare to cross the borders of your comfort zone to open the doors to new experiences and opportunities!