This month, we would like to introduce you to Simona Koleva from Bulgaria, a third-year IEM student expected to graduate in 2021. After finishing her Bulgarian high school, she was seeking a more international experience, which brought her to Jacobs University. Her goal was to get a good education while meeting different people from around the world, learn about their cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
She finds Jacobs University to be the perfect place for her due to the campus diversity and the ability to connect closer to her classmates. She shares the two main aspects that have affected her positively after starting her education in the university - her student job and her experience with the faculty and staff. She works predominantly as a security guard, although you could also see her every once in a while as a bartender in TOS. Her job made her more responsible and she believes she has gained better work knowledge and ethic since getting the position. In the current situation, Simona and her crew are the ones to enforce the rules on campus, keeping the students safe. But her job also contains lots of fun moments, as her boss - Andres Matallana, gave the team lots of freedom to organize social events, making it possible to craft the best experience for the students.
The process of event organization has felt like a bonding experience between her co-workers and herself, resulting in trust in the team. Moreover, her experience with lectures and staff has been easy-going and effective. Her academic advisor - Stanislav Chankov, has been of huge support for her studies and has helped her through difficult times concerning her future. Looking back, she believes that she has grown up a lot as a person during her time in the university. The difficulties she has overcome and how she has developed for the better because of them.
“With my experience at the university, I feel I can rely on my instincts better, working hard, and working through problems. I have learned that I have to face life and that with determination and perseverance everything is possible. You shouldn’t allow anybody to stand between you and your dreams, because they make you who you are”, she shares. She looks back at The Women’s International Leadership Conference (WIL), which she was a part of this year, and sees it as a great learning experience. Learn more about WIL and the team here: https://www.conference-wil.com/
Here is some advice she would give her younger self and fellow students:
- Do not be afraid to expand your friendship circle and seek as much experience as possible. It only becomes easier when you are open to new ideas on such a diverse campus.
- The first year of university could easily be the worst. Problems are usually fixable. It will pass.
Reach out to the people who care about you (a friend, a parent, an academic advisor), they can listen and help you with your troubles.
BY Kremena Terzieva (Bulgaria) | CLASS OF 2021
