Diana Takutdinova: "Best things in our life happen by chance"

March 28, 2016

Name: Diana Takutdinova

Department: Anthropology

Graduation year: 2012

Diana Takutdinova, ANTH -108, American University of Central Asia (AUCA) alumni ambassador in Norway, tells us about her study and work at AUCA, about her career path after graduation, and her Master’s Programs in Norway.  

“The human body consists of approximately 60% water. In my case, the great part of physical and spiritual being belongs to the American University of Central Asia.

Using this chance of being published, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my family, God and the whole AUCA community. First, I had the opportunity to feel spirit of AUCA as a student. Later, I was lucky to experience that spirit again while working as the Student Coordinator and Art Manager. The people I worked with were unknowingly fulfilling my life with positive energy. I am 100% sure that the students and staff who devote their lives and four years of study to AUCA are special. They know how to use their uniqueness in smart ways, which they develop at AUCA.

The best things in our life happen by chance. The important thing is to seize the opportunity. One main reason we lose out on opportunities is by worrying that a better opportunity will come later. Therefore, I took it upon myself to grasp any and all opportunities that come my way. Sometimes, it seems like my career path had been inscribed long before I started to think about it. In 2007, when I finished the dance ensemble “Taberik,” I had no idea that in 2012 I would be defending my Senior Thesis on traditional Tatar dance. It was an incredible chance to combine my two interests: Anthropology and Dance.

For the opportunity to experience archaeological and anthropological field work, for the opportunity to live with unfamiliar people, and for the opportunity to talk about very sensitive topics I want to thank AUCA’s Anthropology Department.

I encourage those who want to earn their bachelor’s degree at our university not to hesitate to apply for Anthropology. You cannot even imagine how Anthropology changes way of thinking, how it touches almost every social science and gives you the possibility of getting a scholarship. You would probably agree that a lot of scholarship require ‘social science’ as a background. Therefore, if there is a sense that you want to investigate culture and society, to dig into social and cultural problems, or simply to discover a lot of interesting facts about human nature and the world, you will always be welcome in Anthropology department.

After two years of working at AUCA, I applied to a Master’s Program at the University of Tromso in Norway and was accepted. The Center for Peace Studies collaborates with AUCA to provide two spots for AUCA students each year. The Norwegian government provides scholarships for this two-year program. The Master’s program in Peace and Conflict Transformation mostly deals with politics. Even though, as I understood later, it is also a holistic field involving psychology, law, philosophy, medicine and anthropology My Master’s thesis examines ethnic issues in Kyrgyzstan which occur inside Ethnic boundaries with a primary focus on Kurd and Dungan minority groups.

You never know what surprises life has prepared for you. In 2015, I got another opportunity to combine Anthropology and Dance. Currently, I am also enrolled in the Choreomundus Master’s Program, in which we explore the epistemological, theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding concepts of Dance as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The program is under Erasmus + and is offered by a consortium of four European Universities. I am planning to write my Master’s thesis about the restrictions and limitations in movements and costumes which exist in the traditional Tatar dance. Safeguarding of one’s own culture is a very important task. I hope people do not forget their roots and the smaller aspects of their culture being citizens in a globalized world.

I hope that in the nearest future I will be able to organize guest lectures at AUCA. I would be very happy if AUCA students meet the extraordinary professors I was lucky to meet during my Master’s programs. Thanks to my AUCA education, I am experiencing new things and gaining knowledge which I want to share with my AUCA community.   

Last year I became the Alumni Ambassador to the Scandinavia region. My plan for the spring of 2016 is to organize an AUCA Alumni reunion in one of the Scandinavian cities. For me, it’s a great pleasure to stay in touch with my Alma Mater and to foster spaces where we can share our experiences and expand our social networks. Even though there are only a few students studying in Scandinavian countries, I still consider Alumni reunions a very important and vital tradition. You can feel that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”

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