Victor Virski
AUTHOR: Chris Sheedy DATE: 06.09.07 ISSUE 1, 2007
The business of relationships
For Victor Virski, a UNSW Co-op Scholarship has been positively life-changing, presenting not only opportunities but also financial support enabling him to afford to fund his studies.
| "I'll know I've succeeded when I can stop, smile and say to myself, 'Wow, look where you are' – both at work and in my relationships," says UNSW Co-op Scholarship student Victor Virski. |
Victor was seven-months-old when brought to Australia from St Petersburg in Russia by his mother who was determined to find a better life for her two sons.
Now in his first year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting and Finance, Victor unreservedly admits that starting over in a new culture presented a mix of opportunities and some enormous challenges as new Australian values conflicted with old Eastern European ones.
Financial hardship and his mother's ill health delivered some serious life lessons as Victor grew up. "I began to learn how to deal with people in a constructive manner and how to cope with situations. It taught me tactfulness and the value of making concessions,” he says.
"I realised there are two sides to success: one is about in terms of academia and career and the other is about having very healthy relationships and a well-balanced lifestyle."
Over the next few years, Victor is looking forward to developing a clear career vision with insights from the valuable work experience provided by the UNSW Co-op Program. "I held leadership positions throughout high school and would like to experience more of that," he says.
"I'd like to make the most of my organisational skills, leading teams and feeling the satisfaction of doing a great job as part of a team," says Victor.
"I'll know I've succeeded when I can stop, smile and say to myself, 'Wow, look where you are' – both at work and in my relationships," he concludes.