Traditionally, on November 17, International Student Day is celebrated by undergraduate students, alumni and all who remember the holiday, and in some places also by those who are still deciding on their future qualifications. However, this year, this day has acquired new contexts, and after all, our entire reality. Actually, because of this war as an unprecedented aspect of life we are forced to review many familiar algorithms, rethink the importance of many things, build a different system of priorities. And even celebrations.
The students’ community of the university actively supported the initiative of the philologists and started the morning of November 17 with a charity and volunteer event, visiting wounded servicepersons who are being treated in the Medical Centre for the Rehabilitation of Combatants.
The young people directly communicated with the employees of the medical facility and our defenders, thanked for their individual courage and heroism, the daily feat bringing us closer to the victory step by step, giving us back the Ukrainian sky and the opportunity to study in the classroom. As befits a holiday, there were many sweet gifts, touching moments and positive emotions.
Sharing her impressions of the visit, Inna Pastushok, a 3rd year student of the specialty 014 “Secondary Education (Ukrainian Language and Literature)”, noted: “It was nice to see our defenders, the conditions in which they undergo rehabilitation. The sincere smiles on their faces were so delightful! They were very pleasantly surprised by our visit and gifts. From our side, this is the least we can do, but on the other hand, support is the main driving force for the soldiers, the best motivator.”
“I got mixed feelings after visiting the medical centre where the militaries are recovering, because at the same time it warmed my heart that there are extremely brave people in our country, to whom I owe my ability to study at the university and do everyday things, but on the other hand, I was depressed for a long time, because the defenders’ fate was a test, after which they need to restore their health. At the same time, I was extremely pleased that we were able to express our gratitude and communicate with our defenders,” said Yuliia Makhovska, a 1st-year student of the specialty 035 “Philology”.
“I really wanted to somehow express my gratitude to our Soldiers, so I decided to join this initiative. When I saw the wounded, I was deeply moved. I’m just in awe of their courage and optimism!!! It was hard to hold back tears next to such people!”, added Inna Khrupchyk, a 1st year student the of the specialty 035 “Philology”. Evidently, every participant of the charity and volunteer morning felt the powerful energy that unites Ukrainians today in the pursuit of VICTORY! Don’t stop, the volunteers’ community!
Iryna LEVCHUK,
Associate Professor of the Department of
History and Culture of the Ukrainian Language
