Ekaterina

I was born in a small Russian city called Nizhnekamsk. The city was so small that it seemed to restrict its citizens’ interests and aspirations by the limited space, poverty and lack of opportunities for professional and personal growth. I always felt that my ambitions and dreams surpassed the imposed limitations and homogeneity, and so did my parents. When I was seventeen I decided to attend the University of Nizhny Novgorod, located in the third biggest city in Russia. There, without any financial or moral support I struggled to balance my job and my responsibilities as a full time student. This experience created my strong sense of independence, and helped me to learn how to gauge my priorities and manage my time. Moreover, it inspired me to move to the United States by myself with the idea to work and help my family.

I enrolled at Baruch College and have decided to study finance and law because they capitalize on a variety of skills. Moreover, both fields are very challenging and constantly stimulate my appetite for knowledge. A college degree is my first and most important step on the path to my successful career.  My immediate goal is to obtain a position in Investment Banking at a large financial institution while also studying for Charter Financial Analyst. Furthermore, I see myself obtaining a master’s degree in corporate law at a top law school which will eventually expose me to more career opportunities and also allow me to create my own financial analysis firm. The fulfillment of such goals requires a leadership backbone and professional guidelines which I look forward to acquiring through interaction with likeminded students and successful, driven professionals in the NYNY Fellowship.