New lecturers joined the community of Vilnius Business College. How are they doing and how do they feel in college? What impressions did our students have? Has this still short work experience at our college been accompanied by personal discoveries and challenges? We already talked to a couple of new teachers, so we would like to invite you meet them here!

Working in college has changed to more practical thinking

Audrius Dabrovolskas teaches communication theory for strategic communication and management at Vilnius Business College. Audrius says that he is grateful for the opportunity to teach due to the favorable circumstances that allowed him to reveal his internal abilities to consult, manage work and analyze. He entered our college with experience in teaching at a university, so meeting him with students at a different type of educational institution was new way to him.

“Vilnius Business College students speak excellent English and are active. How they formulate sentences, what their vocabulary is, how they participate in discussions, how they work together is really exciting. Their theoretical perception is no different from university students, they are able to discuss on a theoretical level, ”A. Dabrovolskas shared his impressions.

According to the teacher, only 2 months since his started new possition at Vilnius Business College but this working experience encourage him to include more practical tasks in his lectures. It is important for students to get involved. They are interested because they learn better by doing. “It simply came to our notice then. My thinking became more practical. It is during practice that I present the theory to the students, ”the teacher was pleased with the discoveries.

Technology expands the variety of teaching methods

The choice of technological tools helps A. Dabrovolskis to apply more diverse teaching methods. Vilnius College of Business uses legal Zoom licenses and the possibilities of the Moodle educational program for remote teaching. Different technology tools provide convenience and the ability to integrate ever-changing teaching models. The teacher of communication theory explained:

“I can assign students to separate rooms where they will present the results after completing the assignment. Students like it, and I like to apply new forms, take advantage of the wider possibilities offered by the paid Zoom plan. If I, as a teacher, get so much in one tool, the efficiency decreases. When the college gives everything at once, I can reveal my teaching methodology to the maximum.

The warm community of the college pleasantly surprised

Dr. Keisha LaRaine Ingram has joined the teaching community of Vilnius Business College. Keisha LaRaine Ingram, who teaches communication and marketing, enjoys a close and warm community. “Usually I don’t have that much time to get involved in the activities of a certain educational institution, but I am really active in Vilnius Business College. I don’t just teach. I work closely with the administration, which I am very pleased with. Compared to other educational institutions, this college is a unique, positive place, ”said K. LaRaine Ingram.

Zoom also lets you communicate closely with students

She also enjoyed the students’ activity, communication and involvement in the lectures. “During the lectures I try to provide as many practical examples as possible that are useful and interesting for the students. There is a change between us, a relationship has arisen. It’s unusual because we haven’t met live, we just see each other through Zoom. Students’ motivation and relaxation help to create a personal connection, ”the lecturer shared her teaching experience at Vilnius Business College.

When asked about teaching methods, Keisha LaRaine Ingram says that teaching is not an easy job, but as a teacher she feels good, has a lot of experience, so she doesn’t have much difficulty. “I like mentoring, exchanging ideas. I am a researcher with a doctorate and do various research. For me, the innovation in college is the possibilities and use of Zoom, so it’s moving fast. “

“I think that if had enrolled into a university right after high school, I wouldn’t have as much motivation to learn and to study as I do now,” – says Edvin Zuzanov. The third year student of English and International Communication told us what helps him to stay motivated, what is his impression on studies so far and what thoughts had he encounter while starting the last year in our college.

When learning is interesting, motivation only grows

Motivation is one of the main topics that a lot of attention is paid to in Vilnius Business Collage. Desire to learn and to act varies depending on personal qualities, busyness or exceptional situations, such as time-consuming online learning. Once the conversation with Edvin Zuzanov started, it became clear that motivation to learn and to pursue his goals is like an everlasting fire that can’t be put out by any external difficulties. How did Edvin manage to turn his motivation into a source of attentiveness that encourages him to take everything that his studies and teachers provide?

“I quickly realized that Vilnius Business College is my place to be. My studies gave me everything I expected. Teachers here are great; subjects are interesting, and students are friendly. Lectures encourage me to search for different ways of improvement as well as different ways of discovery and comprehension of new knowledge. So far everything sits well with me. After all, when I finished school, I was certain that my place was at a university,” – E. Zuzanov says openly.

Studying is easier, if you continually try

Previously on our blog the student has shared what impact Vilnius Business College had on his first year of studies. He admits to follow the words of his English phonetics teacher: “She told us that although studying might be easy in the beginning, it is important to continuously put in effort because you might not notice how less talented but constantly striving students will outrun you. That’s what I do. Even if I understand everything well and even if a certain subject is easy I still put in a lot of effort.

English and International Communication students says that in the last two years he has realized that a lot depends on attitude, internal motivation and the ability to learn. “If you are lazy for a while, later it gets very difficult to catch up. If you concentrate at the very beginning of your studies and try to understand everything, learning becomes easier and the desire to be lazy decreases,” – E. Zuzanov shares his personal discoveries.

He already knows – he wants to continue studying

This summer Edvin did an internship at a creative placemaking assosiation “Miesto kvartalas”, founded by a designer Julia Janus with a goal of reviving the vitality of the Old Town and to adorn the streets of Stiklių, Gaono, Savičiaus and Universiteto with light art installations. During the three months of being a communication specialist, the student has successfully applied the knowledge acquired in the fields of English and communication. (ant „anglų k. ir tarptautinė komunikacija“ dėti šią nuorodą https://www.kolegija.lt/studiju_programos/anglu-kalba-ir-tarptautine-komunikacija/). “I am glad that during my internship English nicely merged with international communication. In the future I’d like to find a job where both areas could merge,” – the student shared his internship experience.

When asked what thoughts and emotions he has encountered in the last year of studies at Vilnius Business College, E. Zuzanov admitted that he is looking forward to studying again and learning something interesting. At the same time, it is a crucial year for important decisions: “I have a lot to think about this year. I want to study further, so I need to decide which direction to choose. It would be good to find a job this year too, so I hope I succeed.”

College – a wonderful start that helps you find your way

The student says his approach to English, which is much more complex than he previously thought, has changed and it led to a new approach to learning and improving. He realized that he is not able to learn everything, so he needed to take interest in certain topics himself by reading books or searching for information on the Internet. Then the knowledge acquired independently, and the knowledge received from the teachers merges and the competence grows. “I’m starting my third year of studies realizing that college is a wonderful start where I can discover the path that will lead me to further sensations in life. Today I am once again thinking about the future, the various possible alternatives, about what I want and what still awaits me,” says the third-year student.

When asked what advice he could give to future freshmen, Edvin says it is very important not to rush and to think carefully about which study program to choose. That is much more important than the usual doubt between choosing college or university. “I have a lot of acquaintances who in the middle of their studies realized that they had chosen the wrong study program. Some others succumbed to their parents’ opinion on what to study. Therefore, it is much more important to learn more about the study programs and to try to find out what is going on inside the educational institution rather than making a choice based on prejudice,” notes E. Zuzanov.

What is more important in life – work or studies? This is one of the most common questions when it comes to deciding whether to start studying when you already have a job or if you still need to find one. Dominyka Sriubiškytė, a student of English and International Communication, openly and insightfully shares the discoveries that helped her to balance her studies and work. Study coordinator Jūratė Butvilė comments on the flexibility of our studies and their adaptability to each student.

I’ve just come back after a day at work. I even took off early so I could finish all my assignments. I have fifty minutes or so to upload my work, so the answer to the question of whether studying and work are mission possible depends on it.

I’m joking a little. However, I can answer right away. Believe me, this mission is doable. I am only relying on my own experience. Many people I know would say something completely different: “You can’t split in half, you have to choose, you can’t cover everything, you’ll end up overworked, you still have time for this…”. And maybe they are right, but my experience and my perception tell me something else: you don’t even know what you are capable of until you are on the edge, until you simply don’t have the freedom to choose. I tell myself that I do not have it. I don’t let that inner miss keep distracting me from my work, because I know that she will always choose what is simpler, easier and more pleasant. In my opinion, some of the worst things that can happen to a person are self-pity and a sense of victimhood. Of course, there are limits to everything. It is normal to feel sorry for yourself sometimes, but you have to make sure that it does not take up too much of your life and that it does not become a routine.

I’ve been working since I was ten years old. All summer long. I had a so-called gap year when I finished school. I also worked during that time. I enrolled to college and, you won’t believe it, I’m still working! And I think I’m doing quite well in my studies! Now I became thoughtful… I wonder, if I didn’t work now, would I do as well in my studies as I do now? Would I be able to get my work done on time from being idle? This is a paradox. Of course, it’s very individual but knowing myself, I dare to doubt it.

When you’re a working person, you know your schedule, your working days, your working hours and when or what you can have time to do in between. That is the magic. The regime, the agenda, the to-do list, the planning and sticking to it. Voila! You won’t believe how much you can do in one day. Download an app to track how much time you spend on social media and then answer yourself if you really don’t have time for studying or working. Try tracking how much time per week you spend talking about how tired you are, how you’re not getting anything done and how you’re oh so sure you won’t be able to do it. I am not trying to bite as I am painfully familiar with this myself. When I started my studies, I realized that it wasn’t about the lack of time but that I chose not to do it, even though I was working. That way I put a little pressure on myself. How are you not able to find half an hour in your day to read or to analyze it? Then, on the second day, another half-hour? Finally, you will have a good chunk of time spent reading books. You can read and listen while you are driving to work, lying in the bath, walking the dog or waiting for the bus.

All it takes is one slow morning for yourself, one calmer evening and after taking some rest you’ll be able to pull yourself together and you’ll find yourself whispering that you can. You can and you will. You will make it; you will finish your bachelor’s degree and then you’ll pat yourself on the back for it. You’ll grow, you’ll gain experience at work, you’ll develop, and it’ll all be worth it in the long run.

All your effort, every self-demand will bear its fruit sooner or later. All you have to do is wait it out, concentrate and, above all, believe in what you are doing and know why you are doing it.

Comment by Study Coordinator Jūratė Butvilė

There are many successful stories in our college where students can combine their studies, work and personal life. However, situations in life vary and when we see that it becomes difficult for a student to study, let’s say, full-time, the study coordinators come to help. Depending on the course and if the student has assignments that are not accounted for, we help them to successfully choose another form of study (e.g., part-time, with lectures on Saturdays) and to continue their studies. Another situation is if a student wants to continue studying full-time but cannot attend certain lectures because they are working. They will then join a group of students studying another study format, where they can successfully attend lectures, account for assignments and pass the exam.

The most important point is that in the event of personal or professional problems, the student is not left alone with the question of what to do with his studies: continue or quit? The solution is simple: contact your study coordinator, who will individually arrange the student’s schedule. The best option is chosen for each case. We have plenty of examples of how those who really want to combine their studies with work or a change in their life circumstances have successfully done so.

Every Summer a puzzled graduate is tasked with deciding what to study. What is it they really like? How do they hear their inner voice between the abundance of advice and internal turmoil? We talked to our college psychology lecturer Lolita Kuginienė and asked her to share some tips for finding a field of study or even a future profession.

Take some time to get to know yourself

When choosing what to study, it is often heard that the prestige of the profession, viability, possibility to earn, etc. are dominant. These aspects are important, but according to Lolita Kuginienė, it is self-knowledge that serves as basis for choosing a future profession. Ask yourself the following questions: what talents do you have? What can you do better than the others? What can you do with ease and no effort? What should you do when you are completely immersed and lose sense of time? These questions help calm down your head and make you realize where all of the most important answers lie. You also need to think about your experience. Remember what you are good at and what makes you unlucky and nervous. What makes other people praise you? It may be because of your grealy arranged birthday parties or your English language that you seem to be learning effortlessly. It is the compliments of others that usually suggest what kind of activities we should do and where to deepen our knowledge, because often we do not notice what is good for us, we take it for granted. It may seem to us that others are successful in this activity, but that is not the case. “Think about what skills you can use to make your old desires come true. Once you figure it out, use your experience and move towards that direction. Everything depends on the person”, – noted the lecturer of Vilnius Business College.

If you can’t figure out your talent, think about what gives you the most joy

Those who did well in school in all subjects also have difficulties in choosing a future profession. On the side, it seems that such people can choose anything, but for many this choice raises many questions and doubts. On the contrary – average students who do not find themselves inclined towards a certain subject may enter a circle of doubts. How do you get out of it? Psychology lecturer Lolita Kuginienė once again advises to use these questions to help yourself. One of the most important – what activities caused you greatest joy and satisfaction in your life? What do you enjoy doing the most? The lecturer observes: “These are each person’s guidelines to make sure you’re on track. Ask yourself this not only when choosing what to study, but get used to doing it on a regular basis. It will help you in understanding yourself and your needs and opportunities better, to notice changes and also gradually shift the direction of of your activities. After all, you do not need an impressive career or incredible achievements in your life. When we do something that gives us most joy in life and allows to be ourselves, we are happy”. Another question that is worth asking yourself: what activity would you pick if you knew that you would succeed? Relax, let yourself enjoy the freedom to fantasize, delve deeper into these imaginations. It is quite likely that you will understand that it is not the lack of talent that prevents you from making a decision, but rather your limited beliefs. It is worth asking yourself, what would you do if you got paid equally well for all the jobs? Or what kind of work would you do for free because you love it so much?

Choose what to do in life according to your wishes instead of being misled by lack of self-confidence

One of the most common obstacles when choosing a study programme are lack of self-confidence and doubts about one’s abilities. If you know what you want to learn, but you hesitate to make the final decision, bring attention to what is behind the lack of self-confidence. According to Ms. Kuginienė, „from childhood we are taught to behave with caution, not to interfere, not to take risks, not to act. We hear teachings like „be realistic, because you will be disappointed in your dreams“, „finish university, otherwise you will not get a well-paid job“, „I understand that you like it (say, playing computer games), but you won‘t get food from it“. „These kinds of lessons are based on fear. They form a negative attitude towards life, which is an obstacle to experiencing the fullness of it. Do you want to live with these unjustified fears?“ The way out of those situations is courage. Ask yourself some courageous questions, use perseverance to search for answers. Let intuition be your guide. There is courage within each person. „Ask yourself: do you really want it or are you more afraid of it? If you are not afraid, what would you choose? Will you be sorry if in case you choose option A instead of option B? What should you do if your greatest fear comes true? „Remember, when you decide, it is very important to stick with your choice. Do not go back to doubts or new considerations. Instead, use all of your energy to execute your choice in the best possible way“, – says the lecturer at Vilnius Business College.

Your self-esteem is up to you and no one else

It was difficult learning at school, the grades were mediocre, the teachers said that passing the exams would end up in failure – these are the kind of thoughts that you thought about and even fully believed in them, which raises the question of whether you would even be able to study and get a diploma at all. Is it actually worth stopping somewhere? If that appears to be your situation, bring attention to what your self-esteem is based on: confidence or trust in other people‘s assessments? „Many people associate themselves with others. You want others to like you, to be recognized and loved. In cases like these, every step you take in pursuit of your needs is an existential test. What if the other person doesn‘t like what you do? What if we get into a fight? It is important to realize that you will not please everyone. Therefore, if you associate self-esteem with others, you do not allow yourself to live independently, „explains Ms. Kuginienė.

She presents 4 ways that lead to positive self-esteem:

1. The value of a person is an abstraction. It does not exist. If you drop the value, the inferiority will disappear.
2. All people are equally valuable. Young and old, those who work and those who are retired, cleaners and professors, women and men.
3. You will lose your self-esteem if you constantly beat yourself up with irrational thoughts. Whenever you think less about it, you feel both valuable and happy.
4. Treat yourself like you treat your best friend. Praise yourself, pay attention to yourself, love yourself.

If loved ones do not approve of your decision, learn how to say a clear no

If you have decided on what you want to learn, but your decision is not appreciated as much by parents or other people who are important to you, remember that fighting back, defending yourself aggressively, or running away is not the right thing to do in such a situation. Your perseverance and respectful communication will help you. You have the right to take care of yourself and your wishes. Therefore, if you are still struggling to say no today, you can learn to do it while maintaining a relationship with people close to you:

• listen carefully to each other, try to not interrupt;
• say no as simply as you can; don’t try to explain or argue why you decided to say it, because it will sound more like a justification that can cause unwanted pressure for both you and the other person;
• however, if you want to explain it, try to be brief; the most important thing is that you feel comfortable about how much you explain;
• never say “maybe”, “we will see”, etc., as this may give other person hollow expectations and hopes;
• be firm (not defensive or disrespectful) and polite at the same time; the person in question must understand that your answer is final and it will not change your opinion

Replace the fear of making mistakes with letting yourself try more

Fear of making a mistake when choosing a direction to study often acts as a brake. You may think that you have to choose right away, because if you do not, it will seem like a waste of time. How do you make a decision not out of fear? Any action involves a set of risks, so let yourself try. Act with courage, not fear. Change your outlook towards failure. This is a life lesson where you grow more than anything else. “Failure is the beginning of success,” – says the psychology lecturer.

“Gap year” is a good decision to get some time for yourself

The so called ‘gap year’, where after graduation students choose to travel instead of studying, earn money, spend time on themselves, according to the psychology lecturer, is a great solution for those who cannot find an answer for what to do in life after graduating. This way, it helps to get out of the normal everyday pattern of life in society and find a new way of life that suits you best: “It is better to do what you really want and not be disappointed than living a foreign life and constantly regretting missed opportunities!” – believes Lolita Kuginienė.

If we were to ask what you are most looking forward to right now, we would probably guess the end of quarantine. It has compressed us in its grip more tightly than the sub-zero temperatures of this winter. Quarantine undoubtedly brought various challenges, but at the same time, it presented a unique opportunity to get to know oneself better.

Arina Čepinskaitė, a student of English and International Communication, shares her experience of how daily life has changed during quarantine. Valuable advice on strengthening motivation and managing various emotions is provided by Tomas Butvilas, a psychology lecturer at Vilnius Business College.

Arina Čepinskaitė

When quarantine was announced in the spring, my first thought was: “The opportunity to stay at home for weeks on end? A true introvert’s dream!” However, almost a year has passed since the imposition of constant rules, restrictions, and quarantines, regardless of whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, many people start to feel suffocated. COVID-19 has turned everyone’s lives upside down. Today, I will write about how it affected mine.

The beginning of the pandemic was a real shock to my system. Stress and uncertainty pervaded every day and every thought. I tried to stay positive, adapt to a new routine, and distance learning, finding ways to occupy myself within the four walls. As time passed and the situation worsened worldwide, my psychological well-being deteriorated. I have been battling generalized anxiety disorder since I was fifteen, but over the past five years, I have learned to understand it. We had established some sort of balance and mutual understanding, which this unusual, frightening situation destroyed.

Studying became an incredibly challenging task. I had to convince myself for hours to open a book and do something productive for myself. I lost motivation not only for my studies but also for other areas of my life. Fortunately, not for long. Communication with loved ones helped me regain myself and motivation.

In terms of communication, nothing much has changed in my life. I have a very small circle of relatives, consisting of just three friends, two of whom are in another city and country. Despite the fact that we have been communicating remotely for a long time, due to quarantine, we became even closer, started texting and calling each other twice as much. One way to spend time became “Netflix” series marathons and computer games. This constant contact with friends taught me that I am not alone and that my feelings are normal and understandable. Even when it is difficult for me to understand my emotions or anxiety attacks, I know that friends will unconditionally support me in the most difficult moments.

I feel significantly better now. I am returning to my studies and a stable routine, trying to take better care of myself comprehensively. Despite all the challenges posed by this pandemic, I am extremely grateful for the lessons learned, for friends who helped me stand on my own two feet, and for the opportunity to rediscover myself.

***

Commentary from Vilnius Business College lecturer and psychologist Tomas Butvilas

Working and studying from home has many advantages, but it also requires each of us to make internal efforts to remain productive and positive. It’s not easy.

Speaking of motivation, it’s important to remember that it’s not that easy to maintain it even under normal circumstances. You will strengthen your motivation when you find meaning in what you do. Ask yourself: what is meaningful to me, why am I doing this? Maintaining motivation is also helped by naming positive things, such as why I enjoy studying from home?

Emotions and feelings, in general, are neither good nor bad. They just are, and each experience is significant in its own way. It shows us something, gives us an answer about certain things in our lives. Therefore, it is very important to allow yourself to feel in every way, ask yourself, what does this experience give me?

It is equally important to remember that everything in life has an end. All the difficulties and various everyday experiences. It depends only on me how long I allow myself to be sad or happy and see the meaning even in very difficult situations.

If you feel apathetic, that you don’t want anything at all, nothing makes you happy, it is a sign that you need to rest. Apathy is often an expression of fatigue or emotional exhaustion. That’s why it’s important to plan relaxation in your schedule, days, or hours when you will escape from routine. Even if you are at home, you can watch your favorite movie, listen to music, or just do nothing.

Similarly, with anxiety and panic attacks. Try to answer yourself, what is the source of anxiety, why am I anxious? What could I do to reduce anxiety? Who among my relatives can help me during this period?

And finally, the most important thing – no matter what period you are currently going through, always allocate time only for yourself and remember that we are never alone in any life situation.

Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. This modern-day adage is thrown around by motivational speakers left and right. But is working what you love merely a contemporary mantra? Did working by calling not exist before?

We asked two teachers from Vilnius Business College, Irena Seniut and Skaistė Didžiulienė, what it really means to work in what you’re passionate about. Both have spent decades teaching, cherishing their students and their work experiences. They shared how they discovered their profession, what they learn from their students, and whether they still love their job.

I. Seniut: “The Desire to Teach Overcame All Obstacles”

Irena Seniut recalls that even in childhood, she knew she wanted to become a teacher. The question was what to teach. “In school, I had a professional, respected English teacher. She noticed my natural pronunciation of English, so that determined what I would teach,” recalls I. Seniut.

However, in the Soviet era, English was not a promising field, and being a teacher was not prestigious. The future student faced objections, but firmly decided and supported by her parents, she successfully entered the then Vilnius Pedagogical University, graduated, and immediately got a job there. She continues to teach and learn English to this day.

Being a teacher requires a calling to work with people.

“I don’t have the same days at work. Each group I teach is different. I have to learn to communicate with young or older people. I think in this job, you need a calling to work with people because you have to be able to accept them and be flexible,” says the head of the Foreign Languages Department at Vilnius Business College.

Asked about the challenges of teaching English to the modern generation, I. Seniut says it’s not easy to show that language learning is a beginning but not an end. “Now English is everywhere. Students travel, read, watch movies, so they think they know everything. But the truth is different. You need to learn the language for life. Due to the excess of information and stimuli, it’s also harder to engage and motivate them.”

Learning is easy when you love your job.

According to Irena Seniut, continuous learning, which is an integral part of her job, does not bother her, although it takes up a lot of time. The teacher is convinced that learning is easy when you love your job: “I learn from colleagues who are interesting people. All my friends are teachers. It’s my way of life, the only thing I know how to do, so I hope I’m doing it well.”

Every teacher will say they learn a lot from their students. Not only teaching differently, adapting to the individuality of the younger generation, but also drawing on the values they live by. I. Seniut noticed that the modern generation wants to live a holistic life: to do a job they love, to have leisure time, not just to pursue a career. “I learn from my students youthful maximalism, the desire to change something, good mood, the ability to relax, because my generation is used to striving for perfection and sacrificing a lot for work,” says the teacher at Vilnius Business College.

S. Didžiulienė: “This Job is My Calling”

Photo – personal Archive of S. Didžiulienė

“I enjoy what I do and wouldn’t want to do anything else. Being a teacher is absolutely my calling,” says Skaistė Didžiulienė, who also teaches English at our college.

The beginning of this teacher’s career wasn’t about fulfilling childhood dreams. “I dreamed of becoming everything in childhood: an actress, a restaurateur. But everything happened simply: after graduating from university, my diploma supervisor called me and offered me a job. It was the current Vilnius Business College. I started working here about 30 years ago,” recalls S. Didžiulienė.

Asked what she enjoys most about her job, the teacher says everything: continuous learning, communication with people from whom she learns a lot. “I sit on the other side of the desk because I know more about English. I learn no less from my students than they learn from me. I am very interested to hear them talk on various topics. Sometimes they open up a lot, for which I am sincerely grateful,” observes S. Didžiulienė.

Quitting teaching gave a meaningful gift

The teacher is candid – there was a critical moment in her career when she got tired of this job and wanted to do something else. However, she doesn’t call this stage a mistake or a break. On the contrary, it gave her an extremely valuable gift. Skaistė Didžiulienė clearly remembers: “After quitting teaching, I felt perfect because I realized that I am free and can make decisions myself. I’m not afraid! I have every right not to know, but I know where to look.”

It took five years for S. Didžiulienė to return to the classroom. As she recalls, she didn’t even notice how it happened.

A woman who has been teaching for 32 years says that her work experience has made her grow. If during the first lectures she experienced a lot of stress and fear of not knowing something, now everything is completely different. S. Didžiulienė confidently states: “I’m not God. I have every right not to know, but I know where to look.”

My first year at college

We start the new academic year with a text from Edvin Zuzanov, who is a 2^nd year English language and Communication student. Edvin talks openly and honestly about his expectations, where he wanted to study after finishing school, and his doubts at the beginning of the first year.

What is waiting for me here? Will there be a lot of learning to do? Will I like it here? Many freshmen face these kinds of questions. The joy of starting a new and more independent phase of one’s life is accompanied by anxiety and uncertainty. Edvin shares his impressions about the first year of college and reveals what motivates him to fully immerse himself in studying.

Edvin Zuzanov

I remember my last year at school vividly. I was not really bothered by questions about what to study and where. At that point I clearly knew what I wanted and where I needed to study. I confess – I believed my place was at the university. But you cannot plan everything in life. After graduating 12 classes, I found myself at Vilnius Business College, having chosen the study programme of English Language and International Communication.

During the first weeks, I didn’t know what to expect, I asked myself: what kind of teachers will there be, will there be diligent studying, will I have to sit until dawn doing my homework, but most importantly, will I enjoy studying here? It wasn’t long before I realized that I was completely immersed in my studies. All my time and attention has been shifted towards college. Because I chose a very broad specialty, I have to learn many different aspects related to English, communication, writing, discussion of world news, creating presentations. It’s only been one year since I was here, and it’s very clear to me that I’ve gotten everythig I expected from my studies and even more!

The was most impressed by the phonetics lectures. It was the first lecture of the beginning of the week, and although it may sound funny, I was waiting every Monday with bated breath to learn and discuss many things related to phonetics. These lectures helped me realize that English is much more difficult than I initially thought. Until college, no one has ever taught me such things. After a while, I came to a conclusion that choosing your desired specialty or branch of science creates more motivation for you to learn and be active during the lecture.

I never in my life felt such a strong desire to try harder, even before the exams in gymnasium. Only when I started studying in this college did I get a good opportunity to show my initiative, my desire to know more and to reveal myself as a person. Our classes are not very large, so the lecturers can communicate with everyone personally and provide equal conditions for learning. Only one year has passed and my entire view on colleges and universities has changed.

In the end, I think that the most important thing is to not hesitate at the moment of choosing the desired specialty for your study. Not everything depends on the popularity of educationl institutions. The quality of science will not take a hit if you choose a college. I know that very clearly now.