Vika Marchenko, a 15-year-old medical school student in Zvolen, Slovakia

To start at the beginning, I want to say a huge thank-you to you, Nataliya Viktorivna! Only my family and you believed that I could get in and pass exams in Slovak.

From the first days of study, all of us students experience a shock. I think the main thing at that time is not to give up and to believe in yourself. Sometimes I wanted to drop everything, but then why had I started? Each week I realised that it was not so difficult; what mattered was wanting to learn and working towards it. I cannot say studying is easy, but knowledge does not come by itself. You have to want it, and no teacher can help a student who does not.

I am satisfied with my results after the first semester at a specialised secondary institution in the Slovak Republic, and I find it interesting. The atmosphere at school is excellent, and living in Slovakia is wonderful too. I have not been to many places yet—honestly, I have not had time—but I hope to catch up. Nataliya Viktorivna, thank you very much for supporting us throughout: you asked almost every day how things were going.

I wish current and future students success. Above all, believe in yourself, and things will work out!