Following the invasion of her home country of Ukraine, Diana Postavka has made a new life in Scotland while making the most of her time at the University of Aberdeen. Diana’s determination and commitment to her studies sees her graduate on Tuesday 30 June with a first-class degree and she has been supported along the way by both a Horn Family Scholarship and an Alistair Findlater Trust Bursary. Here she tells us more of her story.
“My name is Diana Postavka, and this year I’m graduating from the University of Aberdeen with a first-class degree in Business Management.
“I’m from Ukraine and moved to Scotland four years ago following the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of my country. Keen to rebuild my life, I decided to continue my academic journey at the University of Aberdeen.
“Throughout my studies, I managed to complete what I believe is the primary purpose of any academic endeavour - to challenge my opinions and learn to see things from multiple angles. The diverse structure of the course and flexibility of choosing elective modules enabled me to explore a variety of topics and build not only factual knowledge, but a profound understanding of the field of Management.
“Apart from the academic aspect, the true highlight of my university experience was the engagement in extracurricular activities. I participated in several clubs and societies, including the Art History Society, the Trading & Investments Society, and the Clay Pigeon Shooting Club, which allowed me to meet many peers and make friends that will stay with me long after university. Furthermore, for two years I served as the President of the Ukrainian Society. This was an outstanding opportunity to make my own contribution to students' experiences at the University and to build a friendly, welcoming community while spreading Ukrainian culture and traditions on campus. In recognition of my dedication and contribution to the development of the Ukrainian Society, I twice received the King’s Award from the Aberdeen University Student Union.
“My advice to future University of Aberdeen students would be to take every opportunity to engage with the student community, connect with peers, and get involved outside the classroom. I believe that this is an important and integral part of the university experience that allows you to build diverse skills, make friends, and have fun!
“My time at the University was immensely fulfilling and rewarding. It allowed me to build a strong academic foundation, transferable knowledge and universal skills that will support my future studies and subsequent career. I’m now looking forward to starting an exciting new chapter, as I’ve accepted an offer to study an MSc Finance and Management programme at the University of St Andrews. This step will help me to develop the specialised expertise to start my career in the financial industry later.
“None of this, however, would have been possible without the support of my sponsors. The Horn Family Scholarship and the Alistair Findlater Trust Bursary that I received enabled me to have a greatly enriched university experience and set me in a very good position to build a successful future, which I will always be immeasurably grateful for.”
