Saadat Musabaeva: "Dreams surely come true if you fight for them"

September 30, 2015

Saadat Musabaeva, a senior in the International and Comparative Politics Department minoring in Anthropology at AUCA, attended the American University in Bulgaria as a visiting student in the fall of 2013. This past spring, Saadat spent another semester abroad with the Bard College exchange program. She shares the experiences, achievements, and advice she gained through the program.

“AUCA is a leading school in Central Asia that offers high-quality education accredited in the US. AUCA’s top-notch faculty from the best universities in the United States and Europe provide a world-class Liberal Arts education to its students.

The International and Comparative Politics Program, with its intensive curriculum and challenging courses, caught my attention when I was still in high school. Experiencing the constant political instability of crises like the 2005 Tulip Revolution and the 2010 revolution also made a significant impact on my choice of major.

I love AUCA for its friendly and diverse community as well as its unique spirit. I have made great friends and built a lasting network here. I consider AUCA my home because I spend most of my time studying and hanging out with friends here. I am also very passionate about music, particularly singing, so I’m very involved with various AUCA events.

In the fall of 2013, my sophomore year, I received a scholarship from the Open Society Foundations to attend the American University in Bulgaria as a visiting student. I spent four months studying in beautiful Bulgaria and exploring Eastern Europe. To be honest, it was a fantastic exchange academically as well as socially. I met a lot of people with different backgrounds coming from various parts of the world.

After experiencing Bulgaria, getting the real American college experience was a high priority. Specifically, I wanted to challenge myself to experience the academic culture of Bard College. I was interested in taking several courses that were not offered back at home. The opportunity to study and interact with native English speakers was another draw of the program. With all that in mind, I applied for the spring 2015 session of the Bard College exchange program.

The selection process consisted of two parts: writing few essays and taking an English test. That portion was not too difficult. What was taxing was waiting for Bard to select the applicants.

The Bard College exchange program was my third visit to the United States. My first was through the FLEX exchange program in 2011-2012. I lived with a host family and attended high school in South Carolina. In the summer of 2013, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go back to America as an exchange program alumna. I spoke to the new group of exchange students about my experiences.

While living and studying in the US, I was able to immerse in the American lifestyle and culture, witnessing many peculiarities. Regarding the system of education, I was impressed by the selection and freedom middle and high school students had when picking their courses; In Post-Soviet Union states, on the contrary, one must follow a standard curriculum. In America, professors were very respectful towards their students, even if there were huge age gaps. They treat the younger generation as if they were adults, showing them proper and professional attitudes. Most importantly, the professors were always willing to help.

One of the most memorable events that happened to me during my stay at Bard was seeing the Pentatonix and Kelly Clarkson. The show was breathtaking. In academics, I was honored to attend a guest lecture given by Curtis Roosevelt, the grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. I was even able to ask him several questions about current political issues.

After spending a semester in the US, I have a clear idea of what my next step is--a Master’s Degree. Taking political science courses at Bard certainly influenced my decision. Interacting with professionals has been invaluable in gaining experience in music and political science. I made fast friends and a great professional network through my stay in the US.

I believe my mindset, my life, and my goals all changed after my first exchange year (FLEX). I was sixteen for my first long trip away from home and away from family. On that trip, I learned how to live independently in a new place. It made me more mature, independent, and responsible.

What I’ve learned is that everyone needs to value their dreams and goals. Those are what motivate us to live and strive, every single day. Most importantly, when applying to these exchange programs, don’t be afraid to take risks and just try. If you fail, try again. If you fail again, try three more times until you make it. Dreams surely come true if you fight for them.”

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