25/11/2014
MEET A SYNERGY STUDENT NADEZHDA NESTERENKO
In this interview we asked our 2nd year BA Hotel & Restaurant Management student Nadezhda Nesterenko to tell us a little bit more about how she chose to come study in Dubai and about her passion-turned-profession – photography.
Why did you choose to live & study in Dubai?
It has long been that I and my mother had planned for me to get a higher education abroad, whereas we originally thought of Europe. Later on however, the plans changed a bit. By the end of college, I went to study at Synergy University in Moscow. However by Mid-August of 2013, I received a call from my friend in Dubai that changed my life and I joined Synergy’s newly opened Dubai Campus. I absolutely admire my mother who has agreed to such a move and is literally to the detriment of all of her interests for the benefit of our future. Furthermore, since Dubai is on the threshold of new discoveries, and the city of the future, I definitely made the right choice.
How is your life in Dubai different from your life in Tashkent?
It happened that I had to grow up pretty early. I was quite an independent girl from my teenage years onward. But coming here, I believe my adult life started completely different. At first I thought "how cool", before my eyes appeared a truly Arabian fairy tale: the incredible skyscrapers, luxury cars, perfect roads, palm trees, sea air and summer all year round! However, despite all the glamour of Dubai, the most important thing in life for me is society. Moreover, I don’t find people sharing my interests and outlook on life too easily. But it was here that I met some of the most wonderful people who left an unforgettable mark in my life.
Which program are you enrolled in and how is it coming along?
I’m studying the BA in Hotel and Restaurant Management and have come a long way since I started for sure. I was among the first students when the Dubai Campus first opened and am proud to see the development and significant expansion in its first year of operation.
When did you discover your passion for art and specifically photography?
It all began at the age of 13, when a social media portal Vkontakte started to emerge. My friend and I were modelling as avatars one the site, and that’s where I first started to work with simple digital cameras. Step by step I got to work with more advanced SLR cameras and got a lot of hands-on experience with photography.
How did you start your career as a professional photographer?
I think anyone who starts as a keen photographer was not originally planning to go to the very top. Because photography is a hobby at first, and probably not the cheapest one as well. As there is no formal education available in the field of photography in Russia,
we are very much left on our own to acquire the skills and knowledge. I believe to achieve success in this profession you must spend a lot of time on self-education. But this is impossible without the great passion and desire for excellence. There is a rule of 10, 000 hours. According to the definition of this rule, we require about 10,000 hours of practice for success and professionalism in any sort of activity. There are no people who have spent 10,000 hours on training and not become the elite in any kind of activity. According to my assumptions, I am now at the stage of 4,000 hours and am still learning a lot.
How do you manage your studies and the passion for photography?
My personal motto is “Work hard and play hard”, which makes managing my time both efficient and fun.
What are the different challenges to establish yourself as a photographer?
You need to pass an incredible amount of trials on the way to your dream. I'm still at the beginning, with the most interesting things still ahead. Perhaps I can tell you about these challenges in about 5 years’ time.
What type of photography do you prefer shooting and why?
I started with Event photography, weddings and romantic photography. I’m currently developing my skills in the field of advertising, including product, fashion, and commercial focus. My favorite subjects in photography are street photography, street fashion and beauty.
What advice can you give to any aspiring photographer?
To photograph every day, just practice as much as you can, gain experience, and follow your passion.
What are you planning to do once you graduate? Are you going to stay in Dubai?
One day, when I become rich and famous, I would like to travel the world. In the meanwhile, I believe Dubai is the place to be with its upbeat economic pulse and drive towards EXPO 2020.
