Nadezda moved to Denmark right after high school to study alternative pedagogy. She was driven by the disconnection with the conservative society of her hometown and its urgent need of connection with the world.
Why did you choose this program?
First of all, I wanted to volunteer abroad and be useful to society in one way or another When I found DNS College, I understood that there is no better long-term investment in humanity than my time or life dedicated to education. Not the kind education I received in my school, but the alternative kind. Where teachers love what they do and care about the knowledge they are sharing, rather than about the curriculum and grades.
All in all, I wanted to be a different kind of teacher, just like this program suggested. And they promoted all of the ideas and values I was seeking - autonomy of students, traveling, learning and teaching through social interactions, being true to oneself, and open to the world.
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
University provided me with a list of simple necessities and requirements to bring - like a sleeping bag and documents. That was very easy. After the enrollment they helped to fix all the documents, insurance and health care - it was so easy, because they had lots of experience with it.
I only organized travel to the campus and from there I was given a feeling of total security. Not only financial, but emotional too! The pedagogues and teachers at university are concerned about every issue a student has along the way and approaching it on an individual basis.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
It is important to not leave any hardships behind, when you come here. It is a demanding and challenging program, therefore it is necessary to be open minded when here and not drag down by the concerns of your past.
Moreover, it is important to be dedicated to the DNS program. Every person will have their own level of dedication, of course, but reaching your full potential is crucial.
Being ready to unlearn. I think that society teaches us a lot of unnecessary things and some of them can be destructive. Therefore, in DNS we unlearn a lot in the process in order to gain more critical and authentic knowledge.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
It is so diverse that I wouldn't even be able to sum it up! Because we travel frequently and live in different places, the daily structure changes a lot from period to period. Nevertheless, there is always time for team work, decision making, practical/theoretical tasks and leisure activities. No matter if it is a travel, study or working period - the team of students are continuously and consistently working together. All the daily structures will be determined by the team.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
Besides language, I feared of coming back home empty handed. Like when you tell everybody that you are going to study abroad and it is the best university you could have ever imagined and in the end you come back with shattered expectations.
It was rather easy to overcome it, because DNS College exceeded all of my expectations. I never doubted my decision and my family and friends knew that I found my place on Earth.
Who should apply to DNS Teacher TrainingCollege?
It is not necessary to have the dream of being a teacher. It is not necessary to choose or have in mind any kind of pedagogical job to do the courses with DNS. Because in the end we teach each other no matter what, by being part of the good old society.
What is crucial - is to be a game-changer. A world-changer, if you wish. People, who are interested in open and global perspective on the past, present and future - are welcome here!
