‘Growth Often Happens Quietly, When No One is Watching’
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection on the past and planning for the future. With the winter holidays almost here, the HSE News Service has been asking international students to share their experiences and take stock of the year gone by. In this instalment, master’s students Raihanulla Moghmand and Isaac Sarfo talk about traditional New Year celebrations in their home countries, explain what they’ve learned from life in Russia so far, and share some warm wishes for their fellow students.
Raihanullah Mohmand, Afghanistan, master’s student
What the New Year Means to Me
The beginning of a new year has always been a quiet but meaningful moment for me. I usually enter the new year with a mix of hope and responsibility—hope for growth and better opportunities, and responsibility to use whatever chances I am given wisely. For me, the new year is less about sudden change and more about steady improvement, becoming a better version of myself step by step.
In Afghanistan, the New Year is traditionally associated with Nowruz, which symbolises renewal, nature, and hope
It is a time when families gather, homes are cleaned, special food is prepared, and people visit relatives and neighbours. Beyond celebration, Nowruz carries a deeper meaning. It reminds us that after long and difficult winters, renewal is always possible. Growing up with this perspective has shaped how I see the new year. Not as a dramatic reset, but as a gradual return to balance, patience, and optimism.
Looking Back on 2025
I do have a habit of reflecting on the past year. I look back not only at achievements, but also at challenges, delays, and moments of doubt. As an international student, reflection helps me understand how much I have adapted academically, culturally, and personally.
Living and studying abroad teaches you to measure progress differently. Sometimes, simply continuing despite difficulties is an achievement in itself
The main lesson I learned this year as an international student is resilience. Being far from home, family, and familiar systems requires patience and emotional strength. I learned that growth often happens quietly, in moments when no one is watching—whether managing studies in another language, navigating a new academic culture, or balancing responsibilities with limited resources.
A Wish for My Fellow Students
If I could share one wish with HSE students for the coming year, it would be this:
Trust your journey, even when it feels uncertain. Every effort you make, no matter how small it may seem, matters
Stay curious, be kind to yourself, and believe that persistence will eventually turn into progress.
Isaac Sarfo, Ghana, first-year student of the Master’s programme ‘Politics. Economics. Philosophy’
New Year’s Eve in Ghana
In Ghana, New Year’s Eve holds deep spiritual and communal significance. The evening is typically spent in church, attending a Watch Night Service that extends to midnight. The atmosphere is filled with communal gratitude and prayer. Celebrations centre around a grand feast featuring local favourites like jollof rice, fufu, or banku, shared with family, friends, and neighbours in a lively outdoor setting thanks to the warm climate.
For us, the Watch Night Service is an important tradition, reflecting our belief that entering the New Year in prayer sets a positive tone for what’s to come
Regardless of where I am, I adhere to the Ghanaian custom of kneeling in prayer at the stroke of midnight—a highly personal ritual for me.
Reflections and Resolutions
The New Year is more than just a pause from routine; it's an essential yearly evaluation of every area of my life. Inspired by my culture's focus on thankfulness, I take a gratitude inventory—pondering over the surprises and blessings I received, the friendships I cherished, the impact I made, and whether I reached my goals.
New Year is also a time for resolutions. Like many people, I assess my life across various domains—spiritual, career, relationships, social, wealth, mental, and health—and set new objectives for the coming year.
While the celebrations are enjoyable, reflection is the cornerstone that prepares me for the challenges of the coming year. The true worth of the New Year lies in this pause
Learning to Adapt
This year, transitioning from the warm, community-oriented life of Ghana to the meticulously organised setting of Moscow introduced a series of fresh challenges. The crucial lesson I embraced was about the value of cultural integration and tolerance. Interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and immersing oneself in local culture and language is essential to genuinely feel at home, so I made a deliberate effort to connect with colleagues and locals, pushing past language barriers.
Eager to improve my Russian capabilities, I joined initiatives such as GLAGOL (HSE’s online speaking club) and took advantage of free courses from various institutions
These structured, supportive environments boosted my confidence, enhanced my conversation skills, and transformed an unfamiliar environment into an engaging and accessible home. I built connections with colleagues from various backgrounds, and this welcoming atmosphere significantly improved my ability to study and flourish.
The key takeaway is that the toughest challenge isn’t the final exam; it’s the ongoing effort to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers.
By proactively learning the local language and interacting freely with others, I didn’t just survive in Moscow; I began to thrive, linking my social engagement directly with my academic success at HSE
Wishing for Empathy
My wish is that all HSE students practice intellectual empathy. As we tackle complex, evolving global issues, my wish is for us to strive beyond understanding facts and to deeply comprehend why people from diverse cultural, economic, or academic backgrounds perceive the world as they do. This empathy will make us not just better students but also more compassionate global citizens.
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