Fleeing Ukraine alone, resourceful teenager persuades Hungarian school to take her in

Photo courtesy of Alla Renska.

Budapest, Hungary (CNN): It's a normal school day for students at the Korosi Baptist High School in Budapest, Hungary -- studying, presenting classwork, laughing with friends.

Among them is 17-year-old Alla Renska, a tall girl with long blonde hair, carrying her hot pink backpack from class to class. But Renska is no ordinary student, and she is no longer living an ordinary life -- or the life she envisioned just weeks ago. Back then, Renska was studying for college exams in her home city of Kyiv, Ukraine, with plans to become an English and Turkish translator.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed all that.

"We heard explosions and our house was shaking," Renska tells CNN. That's when her parents made the agonizing decision to send her to safety, out of the country. She still can't believe how quickly her life has changed since the Russian invasion. "It's (the) 21st century, it's Ukraine, it's Europe, why?" Renska's parents arranged for her to stay with good friends in Hungary as they remained behind in Ukraine to care for her elderly grandmother, who is too frail to travel.

Full story: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/04/europe/ukrainian-teenage-refugee-budapest-school-intl/index.html

Aura’s Thoughts: As a high school student myself, It must have completely changed Renska’s view of the world she knew and loved. One day she was studying for college exams, the next she was sent to Hungary for safety. I think it is important to empathize with Renska, because even if you might never have to undergo a drastic shift in lifestyle, we should try our best to understand the perspectives of those who have.

Illia Ishchenko-Leshchynskyi, 14, from Kyiv, Ukraine tPalisades Charter High School.

(Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times)

From the Los Angeles Times: Illia Ishchenko-Leshchynskyi, 14, is a new student at Palisades Charter High School. Until about a month ago, Illia lived in Kyiv. Not that long ago, says 14-year-old Illia, “I woke up with the sound of rockets.”His father is still home in Ukraine, defending his country against the Russian invasion. His mother and little brother fled to Romania.

“I’m trying to call my family every day, but it’s not possible,” said Illia, who left Ukraine on a bus and kept going, landing in Los Angeles almost three weeks ago to stay with family.

On Monday morning, he enrolled at Palisades Charter High School.

“I see these kids, these teenagers here. It looks pretty good,” said Illia, who spent half a day registering at Pali and getting to know his way around a campus that sits on a perch above the ocean. Such a beautiful, tranquil setting for a young lad whose country is in flames.

Illia is taking P.E., biology, algebra, English and study skills. With his shaggy hair, loose athletic clothing and high-top sneakers, he looked like just another kid on campus.

Full story: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/column-kyiv-palisades-charter-high-120052971.html

Aura’s Thoughts: I trust have been stressful and heart wrenching to hear to the sound of rockets in Illia’s hometown. The transition from Kyiv, Ukraine to Los Angeles must have been stressful. It is essential to understand the difficulties of digesting that the country he had to leave behind was in flames.