Advice from alumni: Alina Shapovalenko

Alina Shapovalenko, a student at the University of Warwick, was the alumni speaker at EF Academy Oxford’s graduation ceremony on April 22, 2016. Read about the memorable event here.

Why did you decide to attend EF Academy?

I was looking for a good school that offered the International Baccalaureate program because it is internationally accepted and I could study different types of subjects at the same time. I chose IB rather than A-level because it is more diverse and offers CAS and TOK elements, it’s also more broad. I heard that EF Academy was a good school for this program and they also offered me a scholarship.

What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?

The best memory was when we first arrived at school and went to London as a whole class. It was my first time in London and it was great to experience the city with my new classmates and teachers. I was really impressed with London and enjoyed it. We had a lot of trips of this kind throughout my first year at EF Academy and it was always great to share these experiences with my classmates.

What do you miss the most?

I miss how friendly everyone was and the relationships I had with both my teachers and the students. The classes were quite small compared to the ones I have at university and I felt like I knew the teachers very well – they were always available and open to helping us. Because the classes were so small, I got to know my classmates really well. We were in the experience together. University is a very big place and you meet a lot of various new people, but you don’t get as close with them.

What inspired the speech you gave at EF Academy Oxford graduation ceremony?

I thought the best thing would be to talk about something useful and informative for the students. I thought that they could benefit from hearing about my transition from high school to university – for example, the challenges and good things about being a first-year student. I wanted them to learn from my mistakes and my success as well.

What do you remember about your own graduation?

It was lovely! The ceremony took place in the Dining Hall of Balliol College, one of Oxford University’s own colleges, so it was classic Oxfordian atmosphere. There was just our IB class, some parents and teachers, which made the atmosphere very intimate. The day was very beautiful and sunny, and I remember taking a lot of pictures with classmates and teachers to preserve the memory of the event. I was sad at first, because I realized I would be leaving soon, but when I got over that I realized it was just such a wonderful day. I was happy rather than sad because of how special the day really was.

What is it like speaking to a group of students whose experience you are so familiar with?

I feel very comfortable sharing my personal reflections with them. I believe they are able to relate to my experiences much more than if I were speaking to students from a different school. I feel some kind of connection with them, which allows me to be more open.

What advice do you have for the students who are graduating?

Always have a positive attitude no matter what happens. Be kind, grateful and never lose perspective in life because then everything will always turn out alright in the end.

Short questions:

Name: Alina Shapovalenko

Age: 23

Nationality: Russian

EF Academy campus: EF Academy Oxford

Graduation year: 2013

Program: IB

Residence or host family: Host family

Favorite subject: Economics

Favorite teacher: Cy Webber

Which is the next country you want to visit? Australia or UAE

Shout outs to:

• • Ana Otamas – she is my best EF friend and she is here to support me at the graduation ceremony

Current university: University of Warwick

Current program of study: BSc Economics, Politics and International Studies (Economics Major)