Almira Akazhanova took a summer course at Stanford University

Almira Akazhanova, a student of NIS Atyrau, completed a free summer course at Stanford University, one of the world's leading universities, last summer.

- This summer was special for me. By participating in an international educational camp organized at Stanford University, I opened the way to the world of new ideas. Becoming the winner of the essay contest on the topic "The role of neurodivergent people in modern society" was the beginning of this journey, says Almira.

In her essay, the NIS student touched upon the importance of accepting and supporting people with special needs. According to him, only a society that knows how to appreciate differences can achieve true development and prosperity. Classes at Stanford were also unusual.

- We have analyzed real-life examples. Even in a group, I had the opportunity to work with neurodivergent participants. There was a student from Korea in my team: he had a good command of the programming language, and I was in charge of the project. We have jointly developed our own program. I consider this experience not only a practice, but also a contribution to the future of the neurodiversity industry," says Almira. According to her, this experience proves that even a person living in a small town can gain access to global educational centers if they believe in their dream and persistently strive for it.

"This program is one of the most valuable events in my life for me. I especially sincerely thank the organizers who gave this opportunity, including Fatima Moldasheva, and the curator of our favorite school, Gaukhar Smayeva. Thanks to their support, I not only felt the atmosphere of Stanford, but also made sure that the goals were achievable," Almira summed up.