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ADAPT WITHOUT STRESS (part 1)
– A fairly common and widespread problem is the moral state of students who come to the Czech Republic to study. Russian-speaking students from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The fact is that they come here primarily because their parents want it. They want to give their son or daughter a European education.
– Are these children of wealthy parents?
– Either wealthy, or from families that are not very wealthy, but achieve the goal of giving their child a European education in various ways. And so these young men and women, when they come to the Czech Republic, often feel out of place. They become disillusioned with what they see. At first, they think that Europe, European culture, education system, traditions, society – all of this is something free, festive. That it will all bring constant positivity. But then they encounter, for example, that to move from one course to the next, they need to devote a huge amount of time to studies. And their first illusions disappear.
In higher education institutions in the Czech Republic and in Russia as well, there is a big difference in the system of education. In Russia, you can catch up at the last moment, fill in the necessary gaps. In the Czech Republic, that doesn't work. Daily painstaking work is required. And then these students become bored, uninterested, they become disappointed and begin to treat the learning process rather negligently.
– And at the same time, they are not under the control of their parents because they live far away.
– It often happens that parents either initially choose a university for their child where the requirements will be lowered. Or after one or two semesters, they transfer him to such an institute. There is a certain layer of commercial educational institutions where they are ready to turn a blind eye to many things during studies. But the problems don't end there. The student studies, socializes with peers and older university mates, and then asks himself: "What next?" And doesn't find an answer. He doesn't develop the necessary professional connections. He has no understanding of his future career or specialty. Many come to me and say: "I am studying, but I don't know what. I don't understand why I need it. I don't know if I will work in this profession or not. Actually, I dream of something else."
– So he studies, fulfilling his parents' will. But can't the student change his life in any way?
– Quite a few simply give up. They make no effort to change their life in the Czech Republic. How is it here? A person gets a diploma, and then gets a job in whatever vacancies are open, that exist. Some students do just that, in order to gain experience and stay in the country. But many expected something else.
In the Russian system, in the Russian mentality, many after university want to immediately occupy a "decent position." People do not live with the feeling that "I will start from the bottom and gradually and purposefully achieve results." Usually, Russian youth, students, and graduates count on getting a good position right away. With someone's support, from parents, acquaintances, connections. That's how it works in Russia.
In the Czech Republic, the system is built differently. You come to a bank or a design institute, but you start with something small. And students from the former USSR countries who study in the Czech Republic and want to stay here realize all this at some point. There arises a wild dissatisfaction: "How much effort do I put into studying, and what will I get as a result?"
– And how to help the student? Say: 'Be patient, hold on, and wait'?
– You can try to bring a person's expectations closer to the reality they will face. More clearly outline the existing system and environment. Aim him at greater professional precision. So that the student does not waste time, but already during his studies can look for useful connections that may be useful in the future. Back home, in Russia, there is the same support from parents for this. Here you have to act on your own. And family support is only from a distance. That's the first thing. And second. It is advisable to clearly understand, already in the junior years – second or third – whether this is your specialty. Whether this is what you really want. And while it's not too late, you can professionally reorient, choose a different specialization or even profession. Find something of your own. Not be afraid if this cannot be avoided, to 'lose' a course or two at the institute. Both the students themselves and their parents should understand this.
– How many Russian-speaking students, who find themselves in the Czech Republic 'free', not controlled by parents, degrade, become alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, and generally 'hit rock bottom'?
– That also exists. Often children even mislead their parents. They lie that they are studying. Although this son of theirs has long not been at the institute, has dropped everything and is doing some other things. But the fact is that this thread also comes to an end, because studying is tied to a student visa. And the person loses it. But yes, such dramatic cases as you mentioned do happen, and not rarely.
Read the continuation of the article:
ADAPT WITHOUT STRESS (part 3)