Andrii Hnatiuk 16, male from Kyiv

Hi, my name is Andrii, I’m 16 years old. I have quite a big family — I have three younger brothers, a mom, and a dad. We live not far from Kyiv, and because of that, unfortunately, the air defense system goes off almost every night. These explosions and the war are really exhausting. The constant anxiety and stress make it hard to study and grow properly.

Luckily, I have pretty good results at school — I’m one of the best in my class. I also study programming and have a solid knowledge of English, around a B1+ level. Overall, I’m quite an active person — I’m always doing something and never just sit around doing nothing. Even though I’m still quite young, I’ve already tried three different jobs: I worked as an Instagram shop manager, a camp counselor during the summer (so I get along well with people), and currently, I work weekends at a print center where I print certificates and anything else that’s needed.

Besides that, I’m not afraid of physical work — my grandparents live in a village, so I know how to help around the house and in the garden. I also really love traveling. My family and I have visited many countries and cities, and traveling has become something truly special to me. If you’re ever planning a trip, I’d be happy to go along!

In addition to traveling, I have a deep love for nature and animals. Thanks to the love my mom and I share for pets, we have a dog named Matilda and a cat named Barnik. Because of that, I get along really well with animals, and I’d gladly walk or play with your pets if you have any. I’m also good with people — I’d even say I’m the life of the party and can talk for hours on any topic.
Honestly, I really want to go to the USA to take a break from the war in Ukraine. It’s had a huge impact on my mental health, and this trip would be an opportunity to rest and recharge so I can continue studying with new energy. Another big reason I want to go to the US is to improve my English skills — for both my education and future career, so I can build a better life for myself and help others too.