Своим умом: высокие достижения помогли ученице NewTone выиграть грант на обучение

With Your Own Mind: High Achievements Helped NewTone Student Win Study Grant

Amina Umurzakova, an 11th-grade student at NewTone English Gymnasium, has won a grant that will cover 50% of the cost of her further education. The grant, established by the gymnasium several years ago, emphasizes the recognition of great academic success and the active position of the schoolgirl.

According to the rules for awarding the grant, Amina had to fulfill three key conditions. The first is a high level of English proficiency: Amina demonstrated brilliant results in the international IELTS test, scoring an overall score corresponding to the C1 level. At the same time, in two modules of the test, knowledge was evaluated at 8.0 and 8.5 points.

The second important condition was the publication of a self-analysis essay. In her reflective essay, Amina Umurzakova analyzed the period of high school as a turning point in her life, telling how thanks to the business MBA course and music classes, she turned from an introverted student into a confident person capable of public speaking and effective teamwork.

Finally, the student also successfully completed the third condition related to the promotion of the NewTone school community. She published a post about the life of the gymnasium on social networks, which gained the necessary minimum of 200 likes (in fact, at the time of this publication, there are already almost twice as many).

Amina’s results highlight that the gymnasium’s attentive, comprehensive approach to the quality of education – including high academic preparation, the development of communication skills and the encouragement of social engagement – gives NewTone graduates real advantages for a successful start in the future. The grant program of the gymnasium continues and is waiting for new applicants.

High school is often described as a turning point in a young person’s life, and in my case, this description could not be more accurate. Looking back on the past, I can tell how much these years have changed me from someone who preferred to remain unnoticed to a student who is now capable of expressing ideas confidently, performing on stage, and building deep connections with others. This shift did not happen overnight; instead, it was the result of numerous events that gradually strengthened both my character and the way I present myself.

One such turning event for me was when I first joined high school. I carried with me the fear of being the “new student,” and past experiences had made me hesitant to reach out. Therefore, I chose to remain in the background for a while. However, taking part in the MBA course throughout 9th and 10th grade challenged that attitude. The very nature of the course required constant teamwork, exchanging opinions, and presenting results to an audience. Although public speaking initially felt intimidating for me, being repeatedly placed in situations where I had to voice my perspective eventually reduced my anxiety. Rather than perceiving these moments as threats, I began to view them more as opportunities to grow and stopped doubting my capabilities, which has proven invaluable.

Equally influential was my journey into music. What started as a desire to play the guitar evolved into an unexpected passion for drums. Joining the group forced me to step outside of my comfort zone in ways I had never anticipated. Performing in front of an audience, making mistakes on stage, and still continuing to play taught me resilience and self-acceptance. More importantly, it reminded me that imperfection does not equal failure but is part of the learning process. Those concerts, despite all the nerves, also opened doors to friendships with other musicians, whom I have since become very close friends with.

Through these experiences, I have acquired skills that extend far beyond the classroom. I have learned that confidence is not the absence of fear but the ability to move forward in spite of it. This has also made me realize that teamwork is not merely about splitting tasks but about recognizing strengths, respecting differences, and finding common ground with people whose perspectives may differ from my own. These lessons have prepared me not only for future academic or professional challenges but also for the complexities of my everyday life. Although I still experience nervousness before presenting or performing, I now carry the quiet assurance that I am capable of facing my fears. These challenges have made me the person I am today and will continue to guide me a long way after my school years are over.