Arina Revyakina – the story of success: The way of student from “Sociology” Program to the leadership in the biggest organization of HSE SPB

It is known that students-sociologists not for the first time show themselves as leaders of the organizations of HSE. We talked to the third-year student Arina Revyakina and found out what she had done on the way to such a high position of the head of SDS.

-What is SDS?

SDS is a student organization, which stands for "Students for Students", which organizes cultural events at the Higher School of Economics.

SDS is known as the largest organization in our university, and we have from 500 to 2500 people at our events. This organization exists for 8 years already.

-How did you get into SDS? What was done for this?

I learned about SDS in the middle of the 11th grade, when in January I came for an open day at the Higher School of Economics. Since at school I was very active and initiative, staged a playson holidays, organized my class, I knew for sure that apart from studying, I want and will be doing something extra-curricular and I was looking for an organization that is interesting for me.

Accordingly, since SDS is the coolest and brightest organization, it immediately interested me, and when I entered the Higher School of Economics, I realized that all my curators were in SDS, which inspired me to take part in the selection of the "Shkola Activa", which I passed successfully.

In general, "Shkola Activa" is a vyezd of the most initiative students from the 1-2 year course, which is the first step on the way to SDS. I really enjoyed it, and I was once again convinced that this is what I like doing. I went to SDS purposefully, I knew what I wanted, and everything went well.

-What was your first event you organized in SDS?

The first event, in which organization I took part, was the "Vyshka Party". What did I do there? I worked in the direction of PR, where I learned to write advertising posts. Of course, I was much corrected and corrected, and I had much to grow. And also I worked in HR, where I was completely responsible for all the DJs. It was quite an important and difficult position for a beginner, but I managed, because I was confident in myself.

-What do you like about SDS?

For me, SDS is basically a family, and we are all very friendly inside the organization, we will always help each other, we have excellent relations. This is the place where I feel comfortable, a place that gives me the opportunity to develop and inspire other people. For me, it is very important and pleasant, when others say that I have inspired them, that I’m a role model for them. I like that new people who come to us are willing to make events, are inspired by us, by older generation, and leaders in particular.

-How did you come to the leadership in SDS?

To become a head of SDS, I came across a large number of events, through a large amount of experience and fresh views. We had elections where people voted for me and two other girls, with whom we now share this position. It means that people saw in me a certain leader who can lead and hold this organization, then I showed up somewhere and people believed in me. In general, this is all experience, when you are constantly participating everywhere, being active, expressing your opinion, it means that a person is worthy, therefore, he has his own position and view on what to do with this big organization.

-What changed in your life after you became a leader?

On February 9, for example, my first event took place in the role of the head – Ice Vyshka. So, I once again realized that I came to SDS, because I had a need to communicate with interesting people, people who inspire me, who charge me. That is, SDS is a real well of insanely intelligent and enterprising people, and we just do each other better, and this is the most important thing. When we make mistakes - we learn together, when we do something great - we rejoice together, and this joy extends to all people in SDS. And most importantly, probably, is that we really love what we are doing and we respect each other.

I'm glad that now I'm the head of SDS, I looked at the whole process from the other side. I cannot say that something has changed, much more likely there are more problems and different pitfalls, just other people are listening to us more, we are forming some opinions among them. Nevertheless, we are still one big team, where everyone learns something and grows up.
                                                                                                               Anna Timofeeva and Adriana Alieva