Nikolaev Denis, a 2023 Master’s Student in Business Administration at Chongqing University’s School of Economics and Business Administration, came to study here from Russia. Freshman student, finished an undergraduate program in the Linguistic University of Nizhny Novgorod with honors. Back in Russia, I studied Chinese language, culture, history and politics. I’ve only had a vague understanding of Chinese lifestyle, despite having acquainted myself with some Chinese exchange students. Nevertheless, I felt like studying here would be a huge opportunity, and thus, here I am.
My whole life, I’ve been changing my goals on the fly. In middle school, I was interested in becoming a doctor. In high school, I was diligently studying law. In the beginning of my bachelor’s, I was thinking about becoming an interpreter. Now, I’m working towards becoming a top-level corporate manager. I think it’s only natural, as we’re all only human, after all. However, this left me in kind of a weird spot. I took on the challenge that MBA is without any particular background behind me – most of my classmates are older and more experienced than me. At first, I felt anxious and even had thoughts about being wrong at choosing this particular path – but this didn’t deter me. Thanks to the help of my new friends I’ve made here and professors’professionalism, I feel like I’m growing both mentally and skill-wise. Of course, it is very stressful and the workload is unforgiving, but it never occurred to me that I’m wasting my time in vain. Every minute spent in the university and outside its grounds has been a stepping stone for my professional journey.
Of course, life here is not only about studying. I'm a big food connoisseur, so it was very fun to rediscover Sichuanese cuisine with a Chongqing twist here. Honestly, before coming to China, I’ve always considered myself quite spice-tolerant, however, soon I found out that Russian and Chinese thoughts on spiciness wary quite a bit. Of course, by now I’m more accustomed to spicy foods than before, but I'll always remember the first time I've eaten local小面. That was a lesson in humility. I also cook myself, I'm quite good at cooking Russian dishes and I'm also a fan of Pan-Asian cuisine.
Sightseeing is another activity I indulged in. I'll forever respect senior Chinese ladies who showed me a masterclass at climbing mountains. It was amazing how they easily overcame the heights that left me lying on the ground and gasping for air. Despite the challenge, it was an amazing experience. The views were breathtaking, and the sense of accomplishment that followed climbing yet another peak was great.
In School of Economics and Business Administration, I've met many wonderful people. My classmates from all around the world are wonderfully friendly and fun to be around. I've learned a lot about their cultures and worldviews, and even picked up some hints about business practices in their home countries. I've understood that even though all of us come from diverse backgrounds, at the core, we are quite similar. We overcame difficulties together and relied on each other while dealing with project work given to us by our professors. The CQU staff is very helpful and always ready to support you in your studying process. We’ve been on more than one group outing and even had a seminar in the central office of Agricultural Bank of China in Chongqing. It’s obvious that nothing like this would be possible if not for the help from our teachers and administration. For that, I’m very thankful.
I'll forever be grateful for the opportunity given to me by this institution. When I look back, at my younger self, I was a totally different person. Now, I'm much more experienced, knowledgeable and self-reliant. I believe that this is a feeling that one should cherish, as only constant self-improvement will make you feel like whatever you are doing is worth its time. Work hard, don’t burn out and make your future self proud. I know all of us will.
