From Kyiv to Paris: leaving home as a university student
Anna Bazarna was a university student in Ukraine when war uprooted her whole life. Here she shares how she continued to take on new challenges and, in the process, found her path
Anna Bazarna
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I am originally from Ukraine, from a small town near Kyiv.
In 2019, I was accepted into Kyiv Polytechnic University to study applied mathematics and finance, a difficult but fulfilling path. Life in Ukraine presented its own set of challenges, such as corruption in the education system and facing gender discrimination both at school and university. Despite these obstacles, I pursued my dreams with determination. Little did I know how much my life would change during those four years of study.
With a strong work ethic and involvement in my communities, I maintained a balance between the shy side of my personality and being active in society.
Everything changed one night in February 2022, while I was working an online shift as an intern for a Canadian IT company. Like all Ukrainians at that moment, I felt helpless as the onset of war abruptly halted all plans. It’s surreal to think about my life before the war – different goals, thoughts and even different friends.
Despite the chaos, I never lost my hard-working spirit. Even amid bombings and power outages, I continued Zoom calls with my professor in Canada to work on our research and I persisted with projects I was working on with international clients, because these tasks maintained my hope for the future.
Scholarship of the month: Imagine Fellows
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Scholarships available in France for international students
In March 2022, my family and I relocated to France. A friend from my time at the European Youth Parliament helped us find our first new home, and we also received generous support from the French government, local communities and people overall. I continued my education at Ecole des Mines de Nancy, where I pursued an internship in the field of machine learning.
Six months later, I moved to Paris to finish my bachelor’s degree at Dauphine-PSL through an apprenticeship programme. I spent half the year at an accounting firm and another half at a French railway company, with both roles focused on data analytics.
Meanwhile, I continued my studies remotely in Ukraine. This was one of the toughest years yet – the academic pressure was immense, compounded by the fear of war, which I know can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Navigating professional choices proved challenging: should I pursue informatics and management, my passion for politics, or opt for a gap year?
During this uncertainty, the Imagine Fellowship, a scholarship programme intended for students from war-torn countries, provided me with an opportunity to study at HEC Paris and work on projects promoting peaceful co-living.
This experience helped me understand what I wanted to do with my future, combining my technical background with my passion for geopolitics and economics.
Since starting my journey at HEC Paris, my days have become brighter and more productive. Now, I proudly serve as the HEC student ambassadors coordinator, a young European and peace ambassador, president of the HEC Ukraine society, and an active member of various associations for finance, business and charity.
Taking economics and law classes has become my passion. Every day brings me joy, whether it’s because of the fresh air in Jouy-en-Josas or the supportive HEC community.
It’s hard to believe that my year at HEC Paris is coming to an end in just four months, which is truly sad. From the very first day I’ve been actively involved in student social life: organising events, traveling with associations and working on group projects.
So far, I can say that my best memory has been a weekend with Association Avenir Vietnam in Deauville and the coolest party I helped organise was the HEC Ukraine & HEC Italia soirée.
The most interesting course I’ve taken was politics, crises and communication in French. The most practically valuable period was in January when, for three weeks, we worked on crisis management case studies and simulations, and interacted with military personnel.
I’ve come to understand that every experience, big or small, contributes to our growth. Cherishing the memories forged during my time at HEC, I’ve realised life is not just achievements but moments of connection, learning and personal development. Navigating academic pursuits and societal challenges, I’ve learned to embrace each day with resilience and optimism.
As I prepare to bid farewell to this chapter, I’m grateful for the experiences that have shaped me and excited for what lies ahead.
