My main impression of studying at the famous American Ivy League school coincides with the words of the founder of the University of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin: “Dreams and goals with deadlines.” It is still a big honor and challenge for me to work in teams and compete with Harvard, Cornell and Stanford graduates; classmates from Ministries of International Affairs, offices of Prime Ministers of Turkey, Japan, Georgia, Spain; young but very successful economists from India and China. I have a chance to take courses at the best business school in U.S. - Wharton School of Business (ranked second worldwide) and attend a “Leadership Lecture Series” delivered by presidents of the biggest companies in the world, CEOs of leading American consulting groups, and government officials from different countries.

At Fels Institute of Government I take very unique courses in public investment banking, policy development, auditing government performance, and public leadership. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with students and government officials in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, such fascinating opportunities also have another side - hard work without days off. It's absolutely not unusual for student teams to work till 1 a.m. in the library trying to meet deadlines of difficult assignments in order to be on the top of the grading curve. I have learned how to work in the multinational environment and have adjusted to a totally different educational system, based on tests, weekly homework assignments, class presentations.

The openness of the renowned professors towards students has also impressed me. I had a summer internship with Professor Jorge Martinez Vazquez, a leading world specialist in public finance. I studied the working papers of Andrew Young School of Policy Studies while I was writing my thesis in Ukraine, and later when I was a member of the team, writing the plan of the fiscal decentralization for Ukraine lead by the Vice Minister of Economy. Then I found professor Martinez Vazquez's e-mail address on the school's website and wrote him that I wanted to work at the International Studies Program in Georgia State University. He read my CV and writing sample, and invited me to be a visiting scholar! I spent a fascinating summer working with professors from Spain, Bolivia, Peru, and Canada on problems of fiscal policy. I also edited their book about fiscal policy in Ukraine, written by them in collaboration with the World Bank and USAID offices in CIS countries. Also as a member of the Ukrainian delegation, I had the opportunity to meet Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia!

I have been very impressed by the diversity of the United States. I have seen unforgettable architecture and pure natural beauty of Washington and Chicago, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon, Boston and Naples (Atlanta) and Philadelphia. It was a great experience for me to represent Ukraine and tell people from big countries and small islands about my country's economy, politics, history, traditions and customs.

Fulbright has enriched my life in so many ways. It gave me a lot of intellectual and emotional challenges, new friends from all over the world, unforgettable journeys. But the most important thing was that I realized: “Dreams and goals with deadlines” is not just a neat phrase. It can become real, if you really want it!