I believe that light is stronger than darkness, and that kindness, no matter how small, is the most powerful force in the world
I was born in the USSR and grew up in Leningrad, a city of history and resilience. Some of my earliest memories are standing in long lines with my grandfather, sometimes for hours before the stores even opened, hoping to get hold of simple things like sausage or milk.
I remember us pulling sleds piled high with old newspapers to recycle, or making up songs on the bus as he drove me to kindergarten. These moments weren't just about scarcity, they were about finding joy in togetherness and small victories.
helpingWhat shaped me most, though, wasn't the hardships. It was the warmth of my family, the gentle strength of my grandfather, the kindness in my father's eyes, and the way my mother's arms felt like the safest place in the world.
helpingMy father used to take me on bike rides, placing me on a little seat on his road bike, riding through the streets of our city. These simple, loving gestures were the foundation of my childhood.
There were darker stories, too. My family is Jewish, and during the Holocaust, many of our relatives in Belarus were killed by the Nazis. Only a few survived, and those who did faced relentless discrimination.
helping My grandfather and father both felt this weight. It was incredibly difficult for Jews to be accepted into universities, as they were often turned away.
helping My father managed to get into university by changing his surname, but despite being a highly promising physicist, he was denied entry into a doctoral program simply because he was Jewish. As a result, he couldn't obtain his doctorate, even though his talent and dedication were undeniable.
Their joy comes from helping others, not out of self-sacrifice, but from a genuine belief that making life better for the people around them is what life is truly about. They believed, and my father still believes, in the power of goodness, no matter how harsh the world can be.
Yet, through all of this, neither my father nor my grandfather ever spoke in bitterness. They never let these injustices harden their hearts. They were kind; my grandfather was one of the kindest men I have ever known, and my father is just the same.
helpingThis is the legacy that shaped me. From a very young age, I learned that the world isn't fair, but that doesn't mean you let go of kindness. You keep moving forward, caring for others, and never letting failure or injustice make you bitter. You choose to focus on what you can control: your own actions, your own heart.
helpingAs I grew older, I reclaimed the family name my father had to give up. I carry it now with pride, as a reminder of where I come from and the resilience that runs in my blood. When life gets hard, I think about what my father or grandfather would have done.
My grandfather's strength wasn't in fighting against the world, it was in the quiet, steadfast way he cared for it. My father's strength still guides me today.
I believe that light is stronger than darkness, and that kindness, no matter how small, is the most powerful force in the world.
