How a fat dictionary and a lot of fear led me to Japan

To tell the truth, when I was at school, English was one of my least favorite subjects. I never knew which article to choose and was always terrified of making mistakes - and as a result, I always made them! However, everything changed when I went abroad with my parents for the first time. I was 14 years old, and before that, we simply couldn't afford it. In that moment, I realized something vital: to discover this world, its countries, and its cultures, I needed a key. That key was a foreign language. That was how my journey began.

It was a different time... No phones, no Internet... (can you imagine, or do you remember?). My only window into the language was the local library. I started with books - everything from romantic novels to terrifying detective stories. I read day and night. At first, I sat with a fat paper dictionary, slowly decoding every sentence. I kept a special notebook, writing Russian words on one side and English on the other, testing myself every night before sleep.

Books opened a wonderful world to my imagination. They taught me that everything is possible - on paper. But, alas, reading couldn't break the language barrier I had built at school. Years of criticism had made me feel like a loser, afraid to utter a single word. Yet, I kept going because my goal was greater than my pain.

The turning point was joining a University Conversation Club. There, I met a teacher who was the exact opposite of my school critics. She was smart, kind, and incredibly encouraging. Her support gave me a "second wind," and I finally found my voice.

Years after, I eventually presented my research at a conference in Riga, published my first scientific paper, and afterwards won a Japanese Government Scholarship that completely changed my life. But that is a story for another time.

What I want to leave you with is this: I started learning English to discover the world, but I ended up discovering myself. I learned that speaking a language isn't about being perfect; it's about being brave. So, never, never give up. Don't let the fear of a mistake silence your voice. Follow your dreams - not because they are easy, but because your heart already knows they are worth it.