Ural Federal University’s Indian Scholar Receives Medal of Honor
Avinash Kumar is one of the foreign students who graduated with a red diploma and a gold medal. He studied at UrFU in the Master’s program “IT Innovations in Business”.
He decided to share his thoughts about his studies, dreams and aspirations.
“I am honored to be awarded the red diploma together with the gold medal of the Ural Federal University. I am deeply grateful to my family for shaping me into the person I am today. I am also grateful to all my friends who I have met and who have been with me on this journey of ups and downs. This has been a great opportunity for me to look back and write down some thoughts that I think are important – to my juniors, to whoever is reading this, and even more to my future self if he ever loses his way.
You may not be the most important person in the world, but you remain the most important person in your life. You are ultimately the one who enjoys your victories, and you will be the one who tastes the bitterness of your setbacks. Often we get so caught up in trying to live up to the expectations of others that we sacrifice certain areas of our well-being. Even if you are the one who sets expectations for yourself, always consider whether something you are doing is really helping yourself in the big picture. If prolonged periods of work or revision are causing you undue stress, take a breather with something else that will help you relax. Cultivating a resilient attitude of trying is far more important than the fleeting results of your next assessment, and as long as you have tried, you can surely be proud of your efforts.
At the same time, let us not forget to be kind to one another. Everyone has their own struggles, whether it be family problems, financial worries, or even not knowing what to have for lunch every day. It is pointless to compare who has it worse, but a little shared kindness can go a long way. If it is not too much trouble, help someone you meet who’s in need. Even a friendly chat with someone you wouldn’t normally talk to can go a long way toward brightening someone’s day. This, in turn, creates an invigorating environment where people are motivated to work toward their goals in a supportive community.
It seems that my points above can be summarized very easily: take care of yourself, take care of your neighbors, and take care not to lose your drive. However, these principles will not always be the easiest to follow in our darker times. Stay true to them, for they will be the force that propels you closer to the light in the distance.
The university helped me build a strong foundation in engineering and research. It helped me believe that if I had an idea, there was nothing stopping me from turning an idea into a reality. I have been fortunate enough to broaden my understanding and gain exposure to industry and research through various diverse research work I have been involved in. There are many memorable moments and interesting experiences from my time at UrFU. I have had the wonderful opportunity to experience a vastly different culture and develop valuable skills to prepare for a global future. I am privileged to join a huge cohort who call our community a second home!
Finally, never stop challenging yourself. Challenges push us to grow and improve, and without them we stagnate in the comfort of familiarity. Take measured risks, for it is the unpredictability of the future that makes life exciting and enjoyable. Even if you end up missing the mark, the experience itself will make you a stronger person, more ready for the next venture.”
Currently Avinash is preparing to enter the postgraduate program at the Ural Federal University. We congratulate him and wish him further success!