Sociology Week: Interview with Anastasia Danshina

April 17, 2013

-Tell us please, why did you choose AUCA? And why Sociology?

I think my answer for this question will be similar to what many other students say about AUCA. Nevertheless, my choice to study here was very rational. I chose AUCA because it was the university which offered high standards of education. AUCA offered all opportunities to get good education I just was supposed to use them. The instructors with modern methods of teaching, small number of people in classes, the learning process in English, the modern equipment and many other advantages. Everything was in favor for our university. When I was applying documents in AUCA I decided to apply for sociology, because sociology is a modern science with big prospects into the future. After graduation I will be able to find well-paid job, with good opportunity of career development and going abroad.

- Tell us about your favorite classes from sociology, why do you like it?

For 4 years of study I had many different sociology classes where various approaches of studying society were presented, and all of them were interesting, because they encouraged me to acquire new perspectives on what we take for granted in everyday life. My favorite classes were Identity and Differences and Sociology of Deviance, especially Sociology of Deviance. This class offered an opportunity to learn the approaches of studying for instance such phenomenon as crime and its function in society or stigmatization, and labeling. It was very interesting to look at different theories, which explained the phenomenon of deviance from different and sometimes contrary to each other perspectives

-Did you participate in any projects, competitions or events from your department? If yes, could you please tell a little bit about it

I participated in the events prepared by our department for the 8^th of March celebration in 2012 and 2013. This year was more interesting for me than the last one, because last time I didn’t participate in the process of organization. This year I was involved with other girls and all instructors from our department not only in celebration of event but in the organization as well. Till the evening we were preparing the decorations, concert program all together.  It was really good time, because everyone did big contribution for that event. In the day of celebration we were dancing, singing, and doing needlework. The needlework was one of the most memorable episodes of that celebration for me. We were supposed to dress a small doll and think up a life story for her. There were no any limitations, so the results of our creativity were tremendous, plenty of beautiful dolls with different life-stories. The assignment was very simple but raising so much positive emotions

-What did your department give you?

Sociology gave me the flexibility to study in a variety of ideas and to work in almost every organization. Sociology helped me to understand myself better, made my everyday life more interesting, because I changed my world view and learned to think critically about situations, events, and people around me. I want to express my gratitude to all instructors who work in our department. Thank you for your patience and wisdom, for everything that you have done and doing for us.

- Who do you want to be after graduation? In what field are you going to work?

I have participated in different research projects and I liked the work I was involved in, it was a good experience.  I would like to work in the same sphere. I find my future job interesting, because it assumes communication with people. I think, by working in the sphere of sociology, I can make a contribution into the development and implementing of projects which will be able to solve problems that our society have. Even if I am not able to change the lives of many people for better, I will try to help some of them, and it will be a contribution for their better future.

- All sociology students need to pass their internship as in other AUCA departments. What was your internship? What did you do? Was it interesting and helpful?

In our department we have two internships, after the second and third years of study. I had my internship in the research project which “Promotank HQA” consulting agency was doing for Center for International Private Enterprise Cooperation Agency (CIPE) in 2011. I participated in the process of collecting and preliminary analyzing of data. It was the first time I took part in research outside of the university, because small researches which we have been doing in terms of certain sociology courses was not so big and serious like the research I was supposed to participate in. This internship was good and helpful experience. I was observing all stages of research project and how the knowledge that we get during the lectures works in practice. The process of conducting research required direct interaction with different people and it helped me not to be afraid to approach unknown people, to find common language with any person or in sum, to develop my communication skills. 

The second internship also was not less helpful and interesting than the first one. I was taking part in the research project”Livelihoods Strategies of Private Households in Central Asia: Comparative analysis of urban and rural areas in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan” that the head of our department, Galina Gorborukova, was conducting.  I was supposed to take in-depth interviews with representatives of different households. In this research I realized that the process of conducting in-depth interviews is difficult enough: it requires from the researcher to be very attentive and flexible, especially in questions regarding sensitive issues. Both internships were an experience where I was able to feel myself as a real sociologist and understand what my future job is going to be about.

-Your wishes and advises to future sociology students

I wish them good luck and patience in future study. These years are going to be unforgettable.  Try to work hard from the very beginning of your study, because sociology is not easy discipline that it seems to be, like in any department of university it requires to work hard in order to achieve good results.  It is important to understand the materials students cover, especially for the first two years, because this is a fundament where the most of the rest materials is based. And apply for different programs which our university offers, use the chance, because it is a good life experience which is hard elsewhere to get. Do not waste your time! The years spent in university are a big contribution into the future, try to use opportunities for your self-development as much as it possible.

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