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In 2022, Anastasiia Fomina faced a decision no teenager should have to make: stay in the United States away from her family or go back home to a country facing war.

“My parents said it’s not safe to come home,” the 2025 ������Ƶ grad said. “My home city is the northeastern Ukraine close to Russia.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Anastasiia was in Portland, Ind. as an exchange student at Jay County High School. As part of her exchange program, she was originally told she could only stay 10 months then not enter the US again for two years. But when her home became the frontline for a war, she was given the option to stay or go.

“I never went home and stayed for another year at Jay County High School. I became a 13th grader, and I basically graduated twice.”

Now, coming up on a third graduation, this time from ������Ƶ Fort Wayne, she looks back on the difficult decisions she’s had to make. Even in the midst of uncertainty, she’s built a beautiful life for herself.

Persevering

Before Anastasiia began at ������Ƶ Fort Wayne, she was selected as a finalist for the , from which she received a half-tuition scholarship.

In her submission essay, she wrote about how her family in Ukraine gave her the “fighting spirit of a strong woman.” This spirit helped push her through countless college applications and settle on one close to her host family.

“I chose ������Ƶ because it’s open to everyone.”

Empowered by the war, her original goal was to work in cybersecurity and help discover vulnerabilities we face every day.

But she knows not every path is linear.

“College has been fun. Every single step was different, it wasn’t just a straight path. It was super curvy actually.”

Anastasiia is ambitious. Throughout her time at ������Ƶ, she pushed herself to maintain a high GPA and worked hard to make sure she never had a late assignment.

“My professors motivated me to keep going. They pushed me, but they also weren’t demanding.”

The mix of hybrid, in-person, and virtual class styles helped. She mixed and matched to fit her schedule. She said they all have their pros and cons, but it helped to pick and choose which style fit for each one.

There was still a lot she had to overcome.

“One of the biggest challenges I faced was working under pressure.”

As a visual learner, Anastasiia struggled taking tests, especially the proctored ones. She became more stressed before a big exam and oftentimes felt like she didn’t do as well as she wanted.

To avoid stress, she started keeping a planner, which she now uses all the time.

Soon, she’ll be able to cross off May 9, the day that has her excited and proud to be walking across the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum stage, and she credits the people she’s met outside of classes for pushing her along the way.

Embracing opportunities

Anastasiia says that in Ukraine, there aren’t really any school sports or academic teams. In the US, she loved to join in the different events and extracurriculars both in high school and college. When it was time to get her first job, she had the best experience where she even got to be a part of planning these events.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Anastasiia worked in the ������Ƶ Fort Wayne Ivy+ Career Link Office where she made valuable connections and lifelong friends.

Anh Dinh Lapsley told her about the position and encouraged her to apply. She met with Career Coach Joyce Baker to build a resume, and Baker also encouraged her to take the position.

“I’m so grateful it was my first job. All the people there are just so amazing, and I love every one of them.”

The Career Link team embraced Anastasiia while she worked there. She didn’t feel like she was just an intern but part of a giant friend group.

Her day-to-day tasks included answering the phone, scheduling appointments, and completing different tasks from the career coaches and talent connection managers. She also enjoyed working the career fairs and helping organize different events.

Meghan Stevens was her supervisor and also her own talent connection manager. So, as Anastasiia worked in the Office, she also had a chance to discuss future career opportunities.

With her fighting spirit staying strong, everything she did through ������Ƶ has pushed her to become her own person.

“I gained so much independence by going to a different country across the world at 16, then going from being a teenager to an adult without my actual parents.”

Finding community

There were times on this journey when Anastasiia felt alone. She hasn’t seen her parents since she left Ukraine in 2021, and while they talk almost every day, it’s not easy. However, she’s found a family of her own in Indiana.

“If I wouldn’t have stayed here, I wouldn’t have met my husband. Never went to college here. Never met my friends.”

From meeting other Ukrainians to her host family to her husband, Daniel, she has built a strong support system these past four years.

“I'm sure that it was God's plan to put me here, and now I plan to be here for the rest of my life.”

Throughout college, she lived in Fort Wayne but made the hour-long commute to Jay County every week. She embraced her passion for baking and turned it into a home business called .

Her Winnie the Pooh cake even won Best Tasting during the ������Ƶ Fort Wayne Library’s . Daniel has been by her side every step of the way.

He proposed in June 2024 by surprising her on one knee in Florida. They tied the knot in December and recently celebrated buying their first home.

“Daniel has been very supportive. Whenever I’m stressed or sad, he’s always there for me.”

What’s next

Anastasiia is happy with the choices she’s made because it’s led her to new opportunities, friends, and experiences.

“I had to face hard decisions throughout all of it at different times. Like, going back to Ukraine versus not. Going to college or going to work. But I try to do my best.”

After Anastasiia crosses the stage in May, she’s going to walk down the aisle in an official wedding ceremony. Attending will be her friends that have helped along her journey, including some coworkers from Career Link.

Then, she plans to head back to ������Ƶ in fall. This time, to get an accounting degree.

“I really love math, and I’m hoping I can do something where I can mix both of my degrees.”

For everyone making the decision to begin their College journey, she offers this advice:

“Have fun, be responsible, and don’t stress too much.”