After returning from the “Annual” program, for the first time since the summer of 2011, I felt amazing. It was an incredible sense of reboot and liberation from depression and psychological issues that previously had seemed unsolvable. All my worries and breakdowns disappeared, and the only thing that remained were my thoughts about Nadya. However, this time her image became a kind of motivator for me. I realized that I had found a way to fight not only bad moods and depression, but also alcohol and cigarettes: I simply needed to go hiking or travel with a group of people. This helped me reboot and relieve internal tension.
I understood that if, back in 2011 when I lost Nadya, I had known what I know now, I would have dealt with my difficulties much more easily and avoided the traps of depression I had fallen into back then. Now, I felt completely different—confident and motivated, with a clear understanding of how to cope with my inner conflicts.
At the same time, I began running, which was a completely new experience for me. At first, it started modestly—with short distances of about one kilometer. Using an app on my phone, I gradually increased the distance: first to one and a half, then to two kilometers. I ran these routes near my home, and running became a regular activity three times a week. Even though I had always hated running before, over time, I started to enjoy it.
During this period, I received a lot of support from Elvina and Tanya. After my return, we continued to live together with them and my brother. Elvina and Tanya became not only good friends but also important people who supported me in my endeavors, whether it was new hobbies or giving up bad habits. With them, I felt I could move forward. Our evenings were full of warmth: we had dinner together, discussed various topics, and solved everyday problems. This family atmosphere, which I had always dreamed of, brought me immense satisfaction. My brother was especially happy—he had the opportunity to communicate with new people, while Elvina and Tanya created a cozy and caring environment in the house. The end of 2015 became the beginning of a new, full, and happy life for me—one filled with opportunities and plans for the future.
When I reached long distances—10 kilometers and more—my runs started to follow a route leading to the dance school where Nadya worked or studied. Covering this distance required special motivation, and thoughts of Nadya and her image inspired me to keep moving forward. While running this route, I aimed to become better, to live up to the standards that her image symbolized for me. This inner fire pushed me to run further. That’s how I achieved my personal record—16 kilometers, running all the way to Volzhskaya metro station.
Amid all these changes, I found a new job. Starting from December first, I began working on a program for constructing base stations for Beeline. This was a new stage in my life, and I felt incredibly motivated. In addition to work, I also joined a gym with a trainer, determined to take my health and weight seriously. At the gym, I met my trainer, Kirill Ch., who became not only my fitness mentor but also a good friend. We started training together, Kirill monitored my diet and gave me recommendations. We are still in touch; sometimes we write to each other, and he was one of those who supported me when I decided to move to America in 2022.
Aiming for self-development, I also enrolled in a driving school (classes were supposed to start in February) and in an English school to improve my language skills. I already knew English to some degree, but I wanted to perfect it. However, I was greatly disappointed with the English school itself. I had hoped for more live classes and practice with teachers, but the main focus was on video lessons and rare group meetings. This did not meet my expectations, and when I left for Innopolis, I never returned to those classes—the prepaid time eventually expired.
By the way, around the same time, Elvina suggested renovating the hallway in my apartment, which had long needed it. She said she knew someone who could do the work for a reasonable price. In the end, we organized it: I covered the expenses, and Elvina helped find the contractor. After a while, the hallway was renovated, and I was very grateful to Elvina for her support and advice. This was yet another example of how she brought positive change to my life.
At the beginning of spring, I was contacted by one of my former students, Egor, who by then had been working as a project manager in the IT field for quite some time. He offered me a project—we needed to create a website, a social network for a client. Egor took care of the management, while I did the main work. This project brought me extra income: I received an advance payment right away, and the rest came when I was already studying at Innopolis, which was a big help. Later, the client offered me the position of director of the company based on this project, and we registered the firm.
Meanwhile, I also began thinking about getting a technical university degree. I already had a degree in journalism, but I realized that a technical degree would open new opportunities for me. One day, when I saw an advertisement for Innopolis on VKontakte, I decided to apply for the master’s program. I filled out the application but at some point lost interest and stopped completing it. The next day, someone from Innopolis called and asked me to finish the application because my submission looked promising. I decided to continue and, to my surprise, was invited to take the entrance exams.
I was invited to come to Innopolis on certain dates—it was supposed to be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. When the time approached, on Thursday evening I got on a train and set out on my journey. In the morning, already looking out the train window, I saw the houses of Kazan and at the same time wrote to my boss at work, saying that I was feeling unwell and wouldn’t be able to come to the office.
As I approached the Kazan railway station, I watched the city from the window—I could see the Kazan Kremlin in the distance, views of both old and new buildings, bridges, and wide streets already bustling with cars. Sunlight reflected in the windows of the houses, and Kazan gradually revealed itself to me in all its beauty. I saw mosque domes, modern residential areas, and heard the noise of the big city coming to life. All this immersed me in the atmosphere of something new and unexplored, and I felt excited about the upcoming events.
When I arrived at Kazan-Passazhirskaya station, I used the navigator to get to the place where the bus to Innopolis would be waiting for me. I walked along Bauman Street, which resembles the Arbat in Kazan.
It wasn’t just a trip to a new region for me—it was a step towards a new stage in life. Before that, I had never been to Tatarstan, and visiting Kazan and Innopolis was a true discovery for me. Arriving in this modern university town, located far from the usual bustle, was an exciting experience in itself.
When I arrived in Innopolis, the first thing I did was check into the dormitory and immediately got to know other applicants. It was very exciting, as we were all in the same boat—preparing for a new stage in life. Right after arrival, we were informed that the main means of communication among students and professors was Telegram. This was new to me, as I had rarely used this messenger before. But very soon, all study processes and interaction with classmates and professors switched to it. Telegram became an essential communication tool, and I quickly got used to it. The messenger allowed us to solve any issues quickly, discuss assignments and events, which made my adaptation to student life much easier and helped me quickly feel part of this community.
Innopolis itself made a strong impression on me right away. It was a city under construction—new, modern, with a unique atmosphere. The university buildings and four dormitories were already completed, each of which consisted of four floors. The architecture of the dormitories was well thought out: long corridors connected to spacious meeting rooms and cozy areas for socializing. In addition, there were outdoor corridors between the campuses and the university itself, making it easy and convenient to move between buildings. The city also had a large gym with modern equipment and a large swimming pool, which immediately became a hub for many students.
Not far from the campus were residential buildings intended for city residents, and I noticed that some of them were already occupied. A particular eye-catcher was the round office building, which looked futuristic and immediately stood out among the other buildings. The clinic was somewhere in the distance, but its presence added a sense of comfort and care to this still new place for me.
Moreover, we were fed for free in the student cafeteria, and the dorms were warm and comfortable, which helped me feel at home in unfamiliar surroundings. The biggest challenge for all of us was the programming exam, which was held in English. Face-to-face communication with a professor was also a new and exciting experience for me. Nevertheless, this allowed me to immerse myself in the learning process, test my abilities, and feel that I had become part of something truly grand.
Although I did not expect any particular success, the trip to Innopolis became for me not only an opportunity to get to know a new educational institution, but also to meet interesting people. It was a chance to spend time in an unusual environment, broaden my horizons, and gain a new perspective on my prospects in the field of information technology.
Two weeks after returning to Moscow, I received an email with incredible news: I had passed the exams and was admitted to the program in software development management. I was asked to confirm my intention to enroll and, to be honest, I didn’t make my decision right away. I had doubts: did I really need this? Was it worth spending time learning things I might already know? But the prospect of obtaining a diploma was too tempting.
I discussed it with friends and acquaintances for a whole week. In the end, each of them supported my decision, and I sent a positive reply. As soon as the decision was made and the email sent, I was filled with joy—it was a feeling of confidence and relief that I had made the right choice. I immediately shared the news with Nadya, hoping for her support. As usual, she didn’t reply, but that didn’t spoil my mood.
I felt a surge of new energy, realizing that a unique opportunity was opening up before me—one I could not miss. In just one year, I could earn a master’s degree in information technology—an opportunity I could no longer ignore.
Soon after I agreed, I received another email with documents to sign and detailed information about the summer school. The letter described events such as Freshman Day, which would take place on July 12, where I could meet teachers and future classmates and immerse myself in the university’s student atmosphere. There were also deadlines for submitting all necessary documents, which greatly helped me organize my preparations.
On the appointed day, I arrived at the summer school. We completed various tasks and earned points that would count towards our first scholarship. The summer school program was planned for two weeks, but I was able to stay only for the first week. During that time, I got to know the other students, joined our course group in Telegram, but then I had to leave because I needed to finish my work. Before leaving, there was an open-air movie screening, which added a touch of lightness and relaxation after the intense trials.
By that time, Elvina and Tanya, who had been living with us since the autumn, decided to move to another city. These girls had become an integral part of our lives over the past nine months: they helped around the house, created comfort, and were always ready to listen or support with a kind word. Their help was invaluable, especially for me, as I had to combine work, household chores, and caring for my brother. But life went on, and their move became an inevitable step for us.
To replace Elvina and Tanya, another person from the Unification Church—Gena—asked to move in. He needed a room to start living independently. I decided that his presence would benefit my brother, who would find it easier if there was another adult nearby. This was especially important because of my plans to move to Innopolis, scheduled for mid-August 2016. Gena agreed to rent my room, and this decision allowed me to confidently prepare for a new stage in my life, knowing that my brother wouldn’t be left alone in the apartment.
Preparing to move was intense and required me to give up my usual activities. I had to pause my regular gym training with Kirill, which was not easy, as fitness had always been an important part of my life. At the same time, I had to finish my driving school studies. The course was coming to an end, and there was little time left for the exams. I knew I needed to pass everything on the first try. The theory exam and the exercises on the course went well, but for the city driving exam, I decided not to take any chances and paid for the test. Getting my license, I felt ready for the next step.
I also had to quit my job. This process was not easy: my supervisor offered me a salary increase to make me stay, but I explained firmly that I had already made my final decision. In the end, we parted on good terms, and I was able to focus on the upcoming changes with a clear conscience.
