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“Finishing college in a different country has given me one of the best feelings I’ve ever had,” says Vladimir Odinets, who along with his brother Ilya is graduating from Dalton State this spring.
In 2004, the Russian natives moved to America with their parents, who were seeking a better life for their family.
“In Yeisk, where we lived near the southern coast of the Black Sea, my mother worked as a pediatrician and my father was a civil engineer,” says Vladimir, who admits that his family was better off than most and lived a reasonably comfortable life.
“But we moved to northwest Georgia because we had friends in the area who told us how great life is here,” says Vladimir. “We are all really happy with the decision they made. Our parents wanted to make their children happy, and we are very happy so far.” |
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Their move to the States was not without its hardships, both say, including a very “complicated” first year trying to learn the language, to assimilate to a new culture, and to make enough money to put food on the table.
“Our story is no different from that of any other immigrant that comes to this country,” says Ilya. “During the first year you have to work very, very hard. Almost all of your time is dedicated to working to earn money.
“But the first year made our family extremely strong, and even though it was very difficult, I’m glad we had that experience. Over time, it gets a little bit easier.”
Ilya credits his father with making the American dream of a college education a priority for the whole family, financially supporting his two sons and their mother in their educational pursuits.
“My father owns a small trucking business and supports the whole family so that all of us can go to college, including my mother, who is about to earn an associate degree in ultrasound technology.”
Vladimir and Ilya say they are happy to have been students at Dalton State and they are both excited about their future educational plans.
At 20, Vladimir has just earned an associate degree in Nuclear Medicine and will be attending Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in the fall where he will pursue a degree in that field.
Ilya, 23, who had nearly completed a college degree in Russia before moving to the U. S., has been enrolled in the Regents Engineering Transfer Program as a physics major at Dalton State and will enroll in Georgia Tech in the fall with the goal of becoming a civil engineer.
“I hope to one day open my own construction company,” says Ilya, who along with being a full-time student works alongside his father in their trucking business as its manager, as a dispatcher, and as a truck driver during his summer vacations.
Both are high achieving students, who have not only managed to make good grades while at Dalton State, but have also held other jobs while in school. One of those jobs, in fact, helped Vladimir learn to speak English.
“When we came here, I barely understood English,” recalls Vladimir, who says that he only received a “skimming the surface” type of introduction to English in his hometown.
“English seemed hard and very complicated to learn. But the one place that really helped me was Taco Bell. I worked there for about eight months, and I started speaking English more and making American friends.”
After taking initial semesters of Learning Support English courses and Advanced English as a Second Language (ESOL), Vladimir and Ilya enrolled in degree programs, taking core classes and advanced math and science courses.
“I have enjoyed being here very much,” says Vladimir. “I have made a lot of friends, and I’ve had some of the best teachers. They’ve been really supportive.”
His journey to Augusta will provide an opportunity for him to “live by himself” for the first time, and he admits that he feels both “scared and excited.”
Vladimir hopes to eventually practice nuclear medicine in a big city, or as a traveling professional in the field.
“But one day I plan to settle down in Georgia or Tennessee. I really like this area.”
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