Dayana Milieva

Where are you from originally and which program and concentration were you enrolled in at BCB?
I come from Bulgaria and I graduated from the Economics, Politics, and Social Thought Program at BCB, with a double major in Economics and Politics. 

Looking back, what did you most enjoy about your time at Bard College Berlin/what had the biggest impact on you while studying at Bard College Berlin?
Coming to Berlin, I joined a community much more diverse than what I was used to back in Bulgaria. All fruits born from the tree of education that college is, I’ve tasted, not because of gravity, but rather thanks to those surrounding me. Usually, a professor would lift me up to pick one; hoping that, in hunger for knowledge, I’d reach for it. Other times, I needed the fruit to be dropped into my hands. Washed. Peeled. Nicely cut up. Small pieces. Chewed up. Sometimes I’d eat it eagerly; or I’d find it too sweet. Too sour. Bitter even. I’m not talking about fruit here. 

If it wasn’t for the endless patience of those around me, I wouldn’t have learned anything in this life. And I’m not only referring to academia. I’ve realized that as important as studying, sitting in classes, and preparing projects are, they’re just a miniature part of what education actually is. Education isn’t about reading every book out there. Alone. Locked up in your dorm room. Sitting in a distant library corner. It’s about absorbing knowledge from the experience of others. Listening. And not only listening, but hearing what people have to say. That’s what education is about. Fruit salad. Clashing flavors. And a hunger for learning.

Where are you now and what are you doing?
I am currently pursuing a Master Degree in International Affairs at John Cabot University in Rome. 

Any advice you would give to students considering BCB?
It is clear as day that BCB was my top choice, as I chose to spend some of the most key years of my life in Berlin. But it was my lifelong dream to study in the US. Of course I didn’t know then – and how could I know – that BCB would be the reason this dream of mine would come true through studying abroad at Bard NYC. I didn’t know that some time later I’d live and study and intern in the city that never sleeps; that I’d run back and forth, chasing lectures and meetings between Brooklyn and Manhattan as if it is the most normal thing in the world; and that I’d casually call my mom from a bench on the Hudson waterfront. Neither did I know that I’d also do readings for my Economics classes at Piazza Maggiore under the Italian sun a couple of months after being able to call NYC my home.

During my senior year at BCB, I decided I would like to apply to prestigious graduate schools and continue my academic path. The experience, advice, and lessons I had gathered throughout my time at BCB inspired me to do things a little differently this time. This time I’d be showing them my real authentic self, the actual person behind this application. My admission essays did not aim to show how profound my knowledge of the English language is or stress on how valuable of an addition I’d be within the community should I be granted admission, or inform those reviewing my application of the presence of my many and so-astonishingly-multispectral interests that (I swear) no other candidate has, nor did they make sure (by recurring repetition) that they became aware of the prestigious internship opportunities I had so determinedly seized. A perfect GPA won’t send an admissions officer into delirium, nor will the casual mention of some (one-of-a-kind) achievement stop their breath. My essays did not do any of this. Because, let’s be realistic– this is all mentioned in my resume and if it failed to impress them when they saw it there, I doubt that I would have changed their mind by repeating it over and over again. 

Before BCB, I would’ve done that. Four years later, I might have grown up. I’ve now realized that’s not what’s important. I’ve been rewarded with opportunities that I realize many will only ever wish for and full-ride scholarships that made it possible for me to study at destinations I’ve only dreamt about. Berlin, New York City, Bologna. I met too many amazing people and interned at places where I thought mortals weren’t allowed. And so, I feel my heart overflowing with gratitude.

You might ask what happened with my Master’s applications. NYU, Brown, and UPenn. Admission letters I could not have ever dreamt of receiving all at once. Life, as per usual, played out in intricate ways far from those I expected and financial matters made it so that I could not accept any of those offers. Instead, life led me to the eternal city. And it happened so that John Cabot University and Rome unveiled opportunities much grander than I expected. Life is way too short. To blindly follow someone’s advice or to write an essay the admissions officers might drool over, but your soul will hate. Forget that. Because I did. All thanks to BCB. And the right doors started opening.