Advice from alumni: Katerina Kuznetsova
Katerina Kuznetsova from Russia graduated from EF Academy Torbay in 2010 and went on to earn degrees in broadcast journalism and human rights. She has pursued a career in journalism which has seen her work for NBC at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the Special Olympics in the U.S. She was also selected to participate in the sixth G(irls) 20 Summit that took place in Istanbul before the annual G20 Summit. Currently she is based in Madrid and is helping build up a new sports coverage platform. Learn more about her adventures as a journalist and how her experience at EF Academy helped her become more confident:
How did you hear about EF Academy and why did you choose to attend?
I had my first international experience when I was 15 when I went to the U.S. After that, I thought about what should come next and I decided to take the opportunity and participate in an EF competition in Russia. I came in first place and got a scholarship to attend EF Academy. It was very surprising, and I did not know what to expect. I always wanted to travel and see the world, and suddenly I had the opportunity. Improving my English and meeting people have both played very important roles in my life.
What university did you go to afterwards? What did you study and why?
After EF Academy, I went to the University of Leeds where I studied broadcast journalism. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to study at first and therefore tried different things. When you are 17 years old, there is a lot of pressure on you to choose the field you will be working for the rest of your life. In the beginning, my problem with journalism was certainly the language barrier, as you not only have to describe in simple English, but you have to express yourself in the best way possible as well. My experience at EF Academy helped me feel more confident about my English and allowed me to use the vocabulary I needed as a journalist. Another worry I had was that I did not know anyone in the branch of journalism. “It’s all about the connections,” my parents said and I realized they were right. So I started to look for the opportunities and discovered an NGO for young media-makers: European Youth Press. Through the EYP, I made many contacts and was able to become more confident in the field. Another thing that helped my English was working in Torbay as a waitress. This gave me a sense of the “adult life,” some pocket money and the opportunity to be surrounded by native English speakers. In addition to my Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism, I have also earned a Masters in Human Rights and Democratization. For this degree, I received a scholarship from the European Commission and I spent a year living in Yerevan, Armenia and Minsk, Belarus.
What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?
I loved the international atmosphere and the different cultures I was able to experience. I enjoyed hanging out in the common room and meeting people. I miss going to my favorite White Princess Bridge and having classes where we watched films related to the topics we studied.
What is one thing that you learned from EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
I think the most important skill I learned during my time in the UK is the ability to interact and talk to people with different cultural backgrounds. I learned that there are different points of view that should be respected and valued. I would like to think that I became less judgmental and more open to new things and different perspectives. I also learned how to express myself, which certainly is a big advantage for anyone. Finally, I realized what a great thing traveling is. At the moment I have visited about 35 different countries and I don’t want to stop.
What are you currently doing?
After I finished my Bachelor’s Degree, I worked as an assistant with BBC for two to three months, before I had to go back to Russia. Afterwards, NBC hired me as a News Assistant for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games where I had to help with production and translation. The Olympic Games were unforgettable, especially the parts where I could help with filming and watch the events. After I came back from Sochi, I went to work for an Iranian TV channel. I was a reporter in Crimea and I filmed and presented stories about the situation there.
The European Commission sponsored my Master’s Degree education and it was during that time at the Yerevan State University and Belarusian State University that I discovered that human rights come in all shapes and forms. I am passionate about equality and even thought it might sound naive, I want to make a positive change in the world or even the community I live in. I currently live in Madrid where I work a for a new digital platform called the Olympic Channel, which will be launched right after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Rather than producing content that broadcasts the Games, we are actually creating original content about the global love for sport. Our motto is “17 days of the Olympic Games is not enough,” and we hope that the people who visit our platform for sports coverage will hold on to the spirit of the Games.
Last summer, I was involved in the Special Olympics in the U.S. and that was an eye-opening experience. I found it strange how very little we talk about mental disability in Russia. You rarely see disability and do not have the chance to interact with people who are disabled. I was impressed with how everything works in the U.S. and how physically or mentally disabled students take part in classes with their able-bodied peers. I think efforts should be made to make sure the topic of disability becomes less of a taboo in my country and we should strive to focus attention on the needs of those with disabilities in Russia.
What is your dream job?
My biggest dream is to host a television show of my own. Ellen DeGeneres is my biggest inspiration.
What final tips would you give to current students?
I think being curious is very important and honestly, it’s one of the biggest motivators in my life. Another tip would be that if you like something, try it. As the saying goes: do one thing every day that scares you. You should do what you love, because in the end you have to wake up to the work you chose. Of course, it helps if you feel supported in what you do and that is why talking to people who have similar ideas and goals can be very interesting and inspiring.
Short questions:
Name: Katerina Kuzenetsova
Age: 25
Nationality: Russia
How many languages do you speak? Russian, English and learning Spanish
EF Academy campus: Torbay
Graduation year: 2010
Program: A-Level
Residence or host family: Host family
Favorite subject: Media, Law
Favorite teacher: Claire (English teacher); Helen (law teacher); Rachel
Shout-outs to: Leera Darsaniya