aiFebruary 24, 2022, Kyiv, 5 am. I am 14 years old. I woke up to the sound of explosions. A friend called me and said that the war had started. I couldn't believe it because it seemed to me that it was impossible in the 21st century. But it happened. When I read the news I was in a state of shock. Because of this, it is quite difficult for me to remember the events that happened then.

aiMy dad and I left the house and headed to the grocery store. It was difficult to get there due to the large number of cars but we managed to do it. The shelves were empty, almost all goods were sold out, including bread. The mood of citizens varied: some were very worried, some were calm, and some even joked. Airplanes buzzed in the sky and the sounds of explosions were all around. 

aiWhen we got home, we taped the windows, arranged the basement for the night, and my mother baked bread. 

aiI had a happy life: a big family, a house, a dog, made plans for a better future in my country. I acted in movies and commercials. I went to a music school and engaged in mountain slalom on a kayak. But the war divided life into BEFORE and AFTER. We were forced to leave our home due to shelling and other dangers. 

aiIt so happened that we ended up in Germany. I study here in a German gymnasium, but I am more impressed by American education. I am studying hard in advanced English and preparing for the SAT exams. I believe that the US will give me more opportunities in the field of my interests, so I am actively exploring different options for moving there. I hope that this will happen very soon.