Dear Ladies,
It is the last week I am involved in sharing my exchange
student experience in this blog. Especially for this occasion, I wanted to
prepare something remarkable. Thus, I interviewed a couple of Agnes Scott
international students. The extremely bright and successful women, Nga Than
from Vietnam, Seema Shah from Pakistan and Fabienne Feldman from Switzerland.
However, I am absolutely aware I did not answer all of your questions regarding
Agnes Scott College. Therefore, if you have any concerns, you can contact the ASC
Office of Admissions staff.
As I am leaving Agnes Scott, there is a whole mix of
feelings I have. My Agnes Scott experience can be only compared to bungee
jumping – you leave the safe ground and jump from the bridge right into the unknown;
you were given three thousand and fifty instructions, but when you actually
jump nothing remains in your head. You dive into new atmosphere of excitement,
adrenalin and do not actually notice how fast the time passes. Then there is
the time when the rope takes you back to the safe ground. And you were waiting
to be back again but you suddenly understand how much you’ll miss your journey
and your excitement, a part of your soul remains there, floating in the air.
The journey changes you and gives the feeling that nothing unfamiliar can
frighten you anymore; your spirit is free now.
At the moment, I miss my family a lot; I miss my country,
snow-topped mountains and Kyrgyz national food. However, after a year at Agnes
Scott College some part of me belongs here. Maybe it would have been different
if I were not interested in photography to such an extension. I would have spent
my days in the library and attending a couple of events on campus. However, my camera
pushed me to explore the whole campus, be at the events to take pictures and
talk to people. This is the reason for my attachment to Agnes and it’s beauty
now. I love Atlanta, which is one of the perfect places for the restless artist
as well as for a settled-down family man. I love Decatur, light and cozy with
its small shops and restaurants.
The experience at Agnes Scott College taught me to love
people just as they are. Human beings are all different and nobody is perfect,
but being the most developed creatures we have an opportunity to improve our
skills. Now I am free of any stereotypes and I value the difference. I am ready
for new adventures, and thank Agnes Scott College for being my first
independent step into my adult life. Every person has a choice and Agnes Scott
College showed me how many choices I have in my life. None of them are easy,
but each of them is worth trying!
Have lots of fun at Agnes Scott!
Affectionately Yours,
Nagima Kulbaeva
