Interview with the top-100 student of Kazakhstan, Nazerke Zarlykhanova
- Nazerke, can you tell us more about this competition?
On the first tour, applicants had to submit documents of their achievements and write personal information. On the second tour, participants had to choose one topic for essay out of five. There were interesting questions as: “If you had a chance to talk for 5 minute with the President of Kazakhstan, what you would talk about?” I chose the question which was asking me to describe my profession and its importance to Kazakhstan. I wrote about Finance because I am really keen on my specialization.
By the end of second tour, there was an announcement that top-100 students were chosen and the recruiting agency created catalog. Inside of it, every page is dedicated to 1 student from different universities, and they are allocated according to specializations. I found that out of 100 students, 9 were studying finance. Because there were many specializations where one student could be included, 9 are quite a lot.
- Why did you choose to study bachelor of finance? Maybe, somebody influenced to you to make this decision or it was only your choice?
— To be honest, from my childhood, I have 1 sphere I truly liked. I wanted to be banker and always replied to people when they asked me about my dream job: “I want to be banker, I want to wear black suit and to go with suitcase.” But then, when I applied to different Universities, I got the scholarships to Nazarbayev University for Economics and to KIMEP for Finance. Then, I had to choose between Economics and Finance. I read about these two spheres, which were interesting for me and decided to choose Finance.
- Next question is also about your choice. Why did you choose KIMEP? In what spheres KIMEP is leading on comparison with other universities in our country?
— In my point of view, KIMEP is leading, because it is always committed to excellence in all spheres. You can take marketing, teaching and learning support. I can’t really see this thrive in other universities. I also want to highlight, that KIMEP is much internationalized University, we have many international partners. It’s the great opportunity for students from Kazakhstan to go to another country. I think that in Kazakhstan, there are not many Universities that can send students very easily to study abroad. There is for sure, no University that gives opportunity for students to go to such many countries. So internationalization and high accreditation from different agencies is the good sign of our University.
- Instead of your studies, what hobbies do you have?
— I have a lot of hobbies. I’m trying to develop all spheres of my life. I like drawing, have music education in the class of piano, so I like to play music instruments. I’m also working as the model. Moreover, I’m really keen on United Nations. I have participated in many United Nations’ conferences in Kazakhstan and abroad. I was sent by US embassy to India, to Hong Kong, to China. So I have experienced in international relations, but it is not really my profession, so I suppose it is just a hobby.
- Nazerke, you are one of the students with whom KIMEP University can be proud. You finished school with “Altyn belgi” and also you were finalist of the Flex program. Now, in KIMEP you have high GPA. What helps you to go ahead?
In any sphere, you can find someone, who is better than you, for sure. From my childhood, I had a very high sense of competition and everything what makes me work like this, is probably from my genetics. When I see that someone is better than me, I try to compete. You cannot be excellent. But if you try to go with that person together, then you are improving yourself.
- What is your lifetime motto or principle?
— I’ve made a lifetime credo as “Everything you have today is what you did yesterday. Everything you’ll have tomorrow is what you did today. So, if you want to have high achievements, you should work today, right now. If you are applying for something, you have 50% chance that you’ll win it. If you don’t apply, you have 0 chances. Then, it is better to apply and do something.
- Can you suggest some tips to our students for achieving more goals in studying?
— Often, people spend their times needlessly, playing computer games, watching TV, and etc. In order to achieve more, person should get used not to waste time.
- What inspires you the most?
— When I was interviewed last time, they asked me about my dream. From my childhood, I had dream, to make my parents live in better conditions. This dream always motivates me the most and helps to go ahead.
- Can you tell us about your further plans? I’ve heard that you will study in another country for semester with an exchange program. Could you tell us more about it?
— I have many plans in my mind, but I tell them, only when it becomes true. During this academic year I will be studying abroad. I won Erasmus Mundus program, EuroAsian CEA II.