Director of the Institute of Pre-University Education Tatyana Zakharova celebrates his birthday on January 25. She considers this holiday special, as she continues developing the best traditions of higher education and being a real mentor for students and applicants.
– How did you choose the course?
– Firstly, I had an older sister who also studied there and was five years older than me. My sister influenced me a lot. I did not really like the humanities, or chemistry, or biology, so that, for example, I could apply for a medical course. But in mathematics, I was always first in my grade and even at school. That was why I entered the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, SSU, in 1972. My mother also influenced the choice of a classical university. Until I was nine years old, we lived in Ulyanovsk Region, and she spoke especially warmly about our university in stories about Saratov.
– You were an excellent student at school, but how did you adapt to studying at university?
– When the first lectures and seminars began, I was under a lot of stress. But I passed the winter exams successfully, and it was easier to study in the second semester. I did not do anything except study – it was like that until my third year.
Mark Pinkhasik played a big role in my life – he took me on stage, to amateur art shows. This man is not afraid to criticise – he did not like my first performance, and he said so bluntly. Then I realised that success did not come just like that, so I intensively prepared for the next performances, and in the fourth year, I became the winner in the regional student contest. In front of a large hall, I read poetry, recited great poems.
In the early 2000s, when I became Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Mark Pinkhasik came up to me and asked why our faculty had taken the last place at the Student Spring shows. In order to “raise” the faculty, I went on stage and took part in our amateur performance, which took the first place, and then this student initiative was “picked up” by others.
– Did you consciously connect your professional life with the university, or did the circumstances develop that way?
– It was a great reward for me to stay at the university after graduation. There were only three people from the course like me on the faculty. My dream came true then. At first, I worked at the computer centre, and then at the Department of Theory of Functions and Approximations. I was formed by the team – we had amazing methodologists, great mentors.
For six years, I was Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, and, then, I worked for 10 years as SSU Vice-Rector for General Issues. I really love teaching and interacting with students. The Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics is my life.
– Why is this day special for you?
– For the first time, I found out that January 25th, my birthday, coincides with Tatiana's name day, only in high school, my mother's friend told us about it. Tatyana is my patroness, my guardian angel, whom I have felt all my life.
– What do you wish the students on Tatyanas Day?
– My wishes will be quite simple. Young people need to make sense of their lives and understand that there is nowhere without knowledge – they must study! You have chosen the path, which means that you must become an excellent specialist in your field. Such a great opportunity is not given to everyone – a truly happy person is someone who can discover new horizons of knowledge.
Enjoy life, take everything only from the positive side, and in no case get discouraged! If you have any minor troubles, think about why they happened and fix them. Ideas win!
