February 20, 2015
Medina Aitieva, Sociology’01, PhD candidate at the University of Manchester
Hi, my name is Medina Aitieva, ‘01. Born and raised in Naryn, I graduated from the Chkalov school, then I spent one remarkable year in Hayward, CA, USA as a high school exchange student. After a life-changing experience, I was accepted to AUCA (then KAF). AUCA still holds a very special place in my heart as an alumna, ex-faculty, fan and friend for life.
With an AUCA degree in sociology in hand, I started my career by furthering my sociological imagination at Ball State University’s Department of Sociology (USA). In 2003, I returned to my alma mater to teach and learn from my students during seven marvelous years in the Sociology Department. Currently, I am in my fourth year of doing research towards my doctoral dissertation at the University of Manchester (UK), examining transnational families in Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
Where do I start?! I was admitted to the Kyrgyz American Faculty (KAF), which became the American University of Kyrgyzstan (AUK) during my first year of studies and ultimately AUCA by the time I graduated four years later. I initially enrolled in Business Administration and then switched to International Relations (now ICP), which was a great place to be until I discovered the world of sociology. And I have never regretted my decision. My fondest memories of AUCA life go back to my ‘fresh(wo)man’ and ‘suffer-more’ years. When my entire class would show up starting at 7 AM for our 8 AM English language classes and we would sit silently going over our homework before our professor entered the room, I knew I was in a place where I had to act as a grown-up, work hard, and stay thirsty for knowledge. AUCA was a special place with its original curricula, multi-lingual pedagogy, and advanced academic resources. Throughout the rest of four years, while my professors challenged me to think, more so, it were my peers at AUCA who taught me to appreciate a drive for learning, showed me how discipline and diligence had no boundaries, how both competition and cooperation were essential in becoming successful, and finally their friendship and camaraderie made AUCA and our community a better place. This snippet is my piece of history, but it always reminds me of how extraordinary it was to be an AUCA student.
My five tyiyns for prospective and current students is to widen your horizons beyond your discipline. Whether you are studying Economics, Information Technology, or Sociology, take advantage of opportunities (both in and outside of your department and university) by actively engaging in issues that matter. It is important because it is the doing that will make you a well-rounded person, a better citizen, one prepared for life after AUCA. During our time at AUCA, my friends and I created an NGO and raised funds to support projects serving orphanages and setting up trashcans across the city. If you try hard enough, there are no limits as to what you can achieve. The university is the best place to challenge yourselves, to enlarge your social networks, and to discover and create opportunities. Do not take anything for granted. Study hard, and don’t forget to have fun responsibly.
I extend my best wishes to all five fellow classmates, first Sociology graduates of AUCA. To my professors from Sociology and IR I will always be indebted to their longest photocopied articles, socialization outside the classroom, providing platforms for sharing our academic work, appreciating and supporting our active social work outside the university, encouraging us to further our knowledge, and helping us realize that ‘nothing is as it seems’. Thank you!
Interview taken in January, 2014
American University of Central Asia
7/6 Aaly Tokombaev Street
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720060
Tel.: +996 (312) 915000 + Еxt.
Fax: +996 (312) 915 028
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