Anastasia Timoshkina

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management

Russia

Student ambassador and new graduate Anastasia Timoshkina spoke about the value of compassion, during her speech at this week’s graduation ceremony.

Anastasia arrived on campus last June to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management. She immediately made a huge impact on students and staff alike. Passionate about volunteering, she helped out at nearly every student event at Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus.

Anastasia began her speech by thanking her lecturers for the knowledge they had shared and the Corporate Relations, Employability, and Student Success Teams for helping students to succeed.

She said her mother and grandmother raised her and her mother gave her everything she needed: a good upbringing, an education and a role model.

She shares her mum’s compassion and always tried to find volunteering opportunities back in Russia such as helping animals, the homeless, and the older generation.

During her graduation address, Anastasia shared the story of the time she and her mother came across a homeless woman who had become separated from her family. Anastasia used social media to track down the woman’s son and reunited the two of them. The experience taught her compassion, patience and love.

Anastasia says she’s always tried to be hardworking, understanding and a good listener. She’s enthusiastic about social activities which was why she jumped at the opportunity to be a student ambassador.

She said she hoped all of this week’s graduates would go on to lead a good life.

“You are now here because you succeeded, and the important part is to look ahead and to lead a respectable life.”

Anastasia outlined some of the things she had learned during her time studying in New Zealand, including the importance of setting realistic goals, embracing diversity, and taking any opportunity to integrate into the local culture.