When Mariia Syzonenko arrived at Wayland Baptist University in August 2022 after an exhausting journey from war-torn Ukraine, she spoke hesitant English, had never traveled alone, and did not know what to expect from life in a small West Texas town.
Four years later, she is preparing to graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management/Marketing after becoming one of the university’s most involved students. Wayland’s commencement exercises take place at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at Hutcherson Center in Plainview.
“Wayland was just the right fit for me,” Syzonenko said during a recent interview reflecting on her college journey.
The native of Dnipro, Ukraine, first came to Plainview after fleeing the instability caused by Russia’s invasion of her homeland. Her journey included traveling alone through Poland to secure paperwork and a visa before eventually making her way to Texas.
At the time, the transition was overwhelming.
“I had never been in an environment where everything is in English all the time,” she said. “At first, I was translating everything in my head from English to Ukrainian and then back to English before I answered.”
Despite the challenges, Syzonenko immersed herself in campus life. During her four years at Wayland, she participated in choir, represented international students in Student Senate, joined the American Marketing Association, Sigma Beta Delta and Alpha Chi Honor Society, worked in the university’s marketing department, and served as editor of The Traveler, the university’s yearbook.
One of the highlights of her college experience came last summer when the Wayland choir performed at Carnegie Hall.
“I never even dreamed about performing there because it felt impossible,” she said. “Then suddenly I was standing on that stage in New York while my sister and host family watched me perform.”
Syzonenko credits much of her success to the support she found at Wayland and throughout the Plainview community. Multiple families opened their homes to her during holidays and school breaks, helping her navigate life far from home.
“It was hard being so far away while my family was living through the war,” she said. “There were times I checked the news constantly and struggled mentally with everything happening back home.”
Over time, she learned to focus less on the constant headlines and more on maintaining close contact with her family through FaceTime and group chats.
“I’ve still never met my nephew in person,” she said. “I met him through my phone.”
She said Wayland’s small size played a major role in helping her succeed academically and personally.
“When professors know your name and check on you if you miss something, it changes everything,” she said. “I don’t think I would have had that experience at a bigger university.”
Originally planning to study music and violin performance at another university, Syzonenko eventually discovered a passion for marketing through her coursework at Wayland.
“My favorite classes became the marketing classes,” she said. “That’s when I realized this was what I wanted to do.”
Now awaiting approval of her Optional Practical Training work authorization, Syzonenko hopes to remain in Texas and pursue a career in marketing.
“Ukraine will always be home to me,” she said. “But right now it is not a safe place to live. My hope is to continue building my career here and keep growing professionally and personally as I see where God leads next.”
Four years after arriving in Plainview uncertain about her future, Syzonenko said she would make the same decision again without hesitation.
“Of course,” she said. “I didn’t have expectations when I came here. But looking back now, I can see how much these four years changed my life.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: After fleeing war in Ukraine, Wayland student prepares to graduate
Reporting by Special for the Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
