— I think public speaking and debates are fun—I’ve been doing them for years. Back in Cameroon, I started debating professionally in 2017 on Cameroon International TV. I was an award-winning debater, trainer, and speaker. Even in southern Russia, I was a champion in the English category. When I got to HSE University–St Petersburg, I saw that there was a debate club, but it was mostly for Russian speakers. There were some speaking clubs too (Talking Crows, for instance), but just for language practice. That gap intrigued me.

Speaking  HSE University clubs are great for

 

learning languages, but public speaking is an art, a separate discipline—and HSE University didn’t have a club for it. So, I created one—Talent House Speakers HSE SPb .  kazakhstan phone number library If I want something and it’s not there, I don’t complain—I make it happen. The club’s been doing great so far. Studies and other activities have slowed us down a bit, but we’ll bring it back to life and see how far we can go.

Beyond that, I’ve also been active in football tournaments. I plan to join more clubs, but it depends on how long I stay at HSE University. As for the student council, I optimize the stages of the sales funnel  was elected as the international student and faculty representative. The election process here is different from Cameroon. Back home, we’d campaign for a week or two and go from one classroom to another classroom to present our ideas. Here, it’s more digital—you submit your project online, people vote, and results come out.

 You’re in your final year now

 

What is your advice for future applicants, especially Africans who might be sceptical about coming here?

— One thing you need to know is that despite the challenges, HSE University and Russia feel like home away from home. It’s a conducive environment for international students.  clean email Sure, you’ll never be fully comfortable in someone else’s house—that’s a daft idea—but there’ll always be challenges wherever you go. Why do I say this? University isn’t just about studying. Get out there, and join extracurricular events. That’s where you’ll pick up skills, meet people, and free your mind from the stress of academics. It’s a way to express yourself—your feelings, thoughts, and solutions for society.