E043 Sofia Tretiak

Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 0:00 your femininity is powerful in all its forms exceptional women. Rare girls must be appreciated in every way for their perspectives, actions, thoughts, and their unique ways of being. Such rare girls are inspiring. And this is what this podcast is all about. Hello, my name is Aziz and my guest today is Sophia Tretiak. Sophia is a flex alumna, 2021. In Montana, the United States born in Lviv, Ukraine. Her hobbies include video creation, video editing, photography, blogging, and singing. Sophia also danced for 10 years and the Ukrainian folk ensemble. And last year, she participated in German debates and was able to receive the third place at the national level. And he wrote a scientific research paper for the junior Academy of Science, which she presented in the German language. Sophia is a volunteer. And currently, she is a finalist of Ukraine Global Scholars in 2022, which helps her to apply to the top private colleges in the world. Sophia, how are you today? Sofia Tretiak 1:31 Hi, I'm doing great, and how are you? Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:33 I'm feeling alive. I'm feeling positive. And I'm feeling very curious about you. So Sophia, if your friends would describe your personality? What would they say? Sofia Tretiak 1:47 That's a very interesting question. And I would assume that you would describe me as a positive person, very active and optimistic. Hopefully, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:58 I like that. Do you feel most people are positive and optimistic? Sofia Tretiak 2:04 I'm really not sure it depends on your personality. But I personally just prepare, prefer to be friends with people who are positive and who look at the saints in a positive way. Because it really helps you and motivate it motivates you to be just to look at things in a positive rate overall, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:25 I like that. And I have so many questions. So you said, it helps you. It motivates you to look at things in a positive way. And you surround yourself with such people. What belief or what do you think that is the source that pushes you or make to be such a positive person, Sofia Tretiak 2:46 I feel like if you look at the things in a pessimistic way, it's really hard to achieve anything because you only see some bad things in everything you are trying to do or trying to achieve. So therefore, I would say I try just to look for some little small things, they that would really bring me joy. And in this way, I would stay motivated and would have a lot of power to do, what I'm going, what I want to do, and what I'm happy to do in my life. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:18 I like that you speak about power, about motivation, about positivity, what inspires you in this world gives you that energy that adds even more to your fire and your motivation. Sofia Tretiak 3:32 First of all, I'm really getting inspired to because of all the things I'm doing. So when I'm doing something I really enjoy, and which brings me joy, then I have lots of motivation, inspiration, I want to wake up every day, do something fun, and enjoy was my friends work hard. And it's just all about balance. And also, any results that I achieved because of my hard work. Probably they also bring me motivation, and they just like helped me to not stop to continue what I'm doing and achieving and doing even more Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 4:10 thank you and to ask you, you're in love with videography and video editing. Is this correct? Yeah, that's right. What's the most interesting or fascinating thing for you when it comes to video, video editing and creating videos, Sofia Tretiak 4:27 I really like creating something and then edit it and just see how it all has changed and how it all really shaped in some kind of creativity in some kind of way. I see the same so that's probably the one criteria, which I like, because of which I really like editing and just taking pictures and then taking videos of me saying I really see the world differently. I hope you understood what I meant, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:00 thank you if I understood you correctly, because earlier you spoke about power motivation, doing things? Does it make you feel good when you shape things to your desires when you impact the world at large? And the same thing you do with video? They want to do with all of reality? Sofia Tretiak 5:22 Yeah, kind of, and also, just to do something creative to show how I see things in my hat to implement my ideas. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:33 Why is it valuable for you that people see how you perceive things in your head, Sofia Tretiak 5:39 I don't think it's really valuable, because everyone really decides what they want to see and what they want to perceive. But just personally, for me, I really like just watching what other people do and how they perceive the world. Because everyone is really different. Everyone has different tastes, a different opinions about things. So it's really interesting, just to see what people what people see it just a very interesting conversation, I would say, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:09 thank you. And I agree very much, maybe you should start your own podcast, because that's really the purpose. And then for you, when you are interacting with people you perceive their taste their stories, their opinions. Is it interesting, because you can learn from it and try to see the world in that way and therefore grow as a person? Or is it more fascinating, like an entertainment or something new, something different? Sofia Tretiak 6:40 I would say it's both. So I really like seeing what people think about different aspects, different ideas. And also it's fascinating. So it just altogether. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:53 Thank you. And how is this similar to for example, dance? Sofia Tretiak 6:58 That's a really very interesting question. And I'm not sure I can answer it, because Ukrainian folk dances are just something that I cannot just like, show people how I see the world. So it is something that unites me and my ensamble, because we dance, we show Ukrainian culture. So in some way, we just really are united and show the people, that Ukrainian culture and also probably how we perceive it, but all together as a team, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 7:32 thank you. And let's get a bit philosophical right now. So every person is unique. They perceive the world differently, we can even argue each person has inside them their own universe, they're living in their own reality with their own taste, their own desires, their own beliefs. Well, how can people really understand each other, if each person is so unique, that even words can mean different things to different people, Sofia Tretiak 8:03 I think that people should not always agree with each other and just have the same opinions. So on the contrary, it's really interesting when you have something different when you are unique, because in that way, you can teach something, you can teach the person and that person can teach something new. And in that way, you we learn something in that way, we also grow, and they just the world's development, I would say. So that's a process, which is really like inevitable and truly interesting. So yeah, I would say you should not agree, you should probably even just share your experiences and your opinions, which can be even different or drastically, drastically, even different from each other. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 8:54 Oh, I love this. And I have so many questions. And I'll begin with this one. Can you make great friendships or great relationships with people who have totally opposite views to you? Sofia Tretiak 9:08 It's really tricky. But I would say yes, as long as the person is tolerant, as long as they, he or she, they respect my opinions as well and just share with a saying that of course I can be friends. Because, again, it will be just the process of learning. But if they just try like to convince me in something, which I don't think is true, and which I don't believe in, so they don't respect my opinions, then probably not. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 9:39 Thank you, for you and in your experience with people. Have you ever had the experience where when you meet somebody you feel like you know them all your life from the very first second, or are you always at first observing, exploring and opening yourself slowly Sofia Tretiak 9:59 I would say I'm a second type of the person. So I cannot become friends right away, I will observe, I will talk to a person probably have just some small talks at the beginning. But then gradually, I am I will be becoming more open, I will be like going into deeper conversations and then become good friends. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:22 Thank you. And how do you know? Or what are your criteria to understand this is my person or this is not my person, probably just some Sofia Tretiak 10:33 basic criterias, like, respectful, probably open, open mind, open mind that tolerant, interesting, has some, I don't know, unique hobbies. So just the person that is really interesting, and that you really want to talk about that you want to learn something from, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:54 I like that, it seems to me that learning is very important for you. What is the meaning of learning from your own perspective? And how does it relate to creativity? Sofia Tretiak 11:07 Learning for me is discovering some really fascinating things, and which you instantly want to apply to something. And this is actually really connected to then to creativity. Because if you learn something, and if you're really like, sparked by it, if you really think wow, that's so interesting, then you want to use it, and you probably will just like, use it in some way that you want to do it, if that makes sense. And then you can apply your creativity. So I see this connection like that. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 11:41 Thank you. And I love that you mentioned the spark, do you feel you're someone with that spark in the eyes? Because you're curious and alive? And do you tend to make friends with people who have such energy? Can you feel people's energy? Are you an empath who loves passionate people? Sofia Tretiak 11:59 Oh, yeah, I really love passionate people. And yeah, hopefully, yeah, I also have that spark, because I can't really see it. I mean, like, I can't really see it in the mirror. So hopefully other people can see it in me. And yes, I probably have it when I'm just interested. And when I'm doing the things I laugh, but if I don't, if I'm not really into something. When I find some things boring, then probably I don't have it. Yeah, but passionate people, creative people, people that have some interesting hobbies. And who have those sparks? I really love being friends who is them? Oh, I Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 12:40 have so many, many, many questions I'll ask to and please, you know, remember both because I cannot really decide which one to ask first. So one of them is a lot of things like research, science, etc. requires a lot of boring work. So if it's consistently over weeks and months, boring things, how do you motivate yourself to not lose the spark of life? If doing that? Or are you always fascinated by learning anything new? So you've never experienced that? That's question one. The second is a simple one. A lot of Ukrainian girls have a very serious bitchface. So people can think oh my god, she's so angry or something like that. Do you have that? Did you experience it in the US where you needed to remember to smile because people thought you're angry or not? Sofia Tretiak 13:36 It's actually very funny, but I will start with the first question. So research was actually not really boring to me because I chose a topic, which I was really interested in it was about nonverbal communication, and what power it has on political speech. And I chose some a German politicians. And it was really a very fascinating, I was like, wow, nonverbal communication has such a big influence. And we don't really notice it, because it's our like psychology. So even though I was working on that research, like for three months, if not more, it was still very interesting, because I was every day finding out some new facts. I was reading new sources. And then I was all like, putting it together into some document and also making some psychological analysis from the real speeches. So I was always fascinated by that process. So it was not boring for me at all. And then the second question about the bitchface. And I don't know, it's really, really hard. But a funny fact is that in the US, I lived with other exchange students, she was my double placement from the country, Georgia, and she always told me, she always told me that I really look angry, and I was like, why? I'm just concentrated. So it's really, really important to undress. stent if the Ukrainian girl is angry or concentrated. In my case, I'm just really like focused on something. And all my attention goes there. So I can just smile at the same time. But also, she was just the only one who told me that. Yeah, and I would say it does not mean that all Ukrainian girls are like that. It really depends on your personality. And not like, it does not mean that all Ukrainian girls like, it's not about the whole nation. It just depends on a person. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:31 I agree. 100% I mean, Thai stereotypes. But every Ukrainian girl I asked, she says yes. A really serious retrace. And to know a bit more about you as well. Look, you seem to love embodied things like sports dance, are you someone who lives mostly in the present moment where you feel the energy of life really strongly where you feel the breeze, the sunlight, every emotion and you're not like, always remembering the regrets of the past? Or always not living in the moment? Because you're thinking about the future? does it describe you? Or how are you when it comes to your perspective, on time and on life? Sofia Tretiak 16:21 Here are so many things I want to mention. But probably first of all, I try to live in the present moment. So I try to smile every day to do some fun activities to work, to relax, to have fun. But at the same time, I do think about my future what I will do. So every day, I also do something to have some results in the future, if that makes sense. Like for example, studying, it means investing in myself. So in the future, I will get a good job, and I will have a happy life because work is also a big part of it. Yeah, and what I think about time, actually, I'm a person who really loves organizing everything. So every day, so no, every night, I make a to do list because if I don't do it, then I will procrastinate because I will not know when to start what things I have to get done. But if I have it, then I'm really very productive because I have like a system. And I know what goes after what and it really helps me just to be on a track and to be productive just to do what I have to do. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 17:32 Thank you, since you sometimes procrastinate and sometimes are very organized. Would you describe yourself as a very logical person who doesn't yield much to emotions? Or are you more emotional you love new emotions and emotions are for you? Almost everything in life? Sofia Tretiak 17:53 It really depends. So I would say I'm an emotional person. But like sometimes, I'm also like, very reversed, reserved, just like very organized, you know, and, I don't know, don't really care about emotions, okay. It's probably wrong to say, but it's probably like 5050 Sometimes I'm emotional, sometimes. I do not pay attention to those emotions. If I understood you correctly, if, if I answered your question correctly. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 18:22 Yes, you did. Thank you, when it comes to experience in people, are people for you more their stories, their knowledge, their brains? Or are they more their bodies where they have been the activities they do? Or are they more like souls and their energy, and their chakras and their metaphysical auras, et cetera, Sofia Tretiak 18:46 it's probably a combination of everything, like, where the person has been, like, what they do, what interesting hobbies they have, what ideas and opinions they have. It's all really together. So I can just choose one thing. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 19:03 Thank you very much. And when it comes to February 24, when were you on that day? How did you hear about the war? Tell me the story of discovery, the emotions, everything? Sofia Tretiak 19:16 Yes. So in February, I was in still in Montana. I have I was on my exchange here. And it was like 8pm, where I returned home after school after basketball practice. And I was just sitting on the couch relaxing, and checking the news. And then I saw that some explosions began, I saw the words of the Russian president, who said that he's going to to make some military operation. And I don't know I was just like, sitting there shocked and I could not understand what's really going on if I'm dreaming. If I saw something badly If I don't know what's going on, and then it was 5am in Ukraine, so I was the first one who called my parents who woke them up and told them that the war has begun. Or it's more correct to say that the invasion has begun because the war in Ukraine has been going on for eight years already since 2014. But it was not a full scale. It was only like on the east and on the south, where Crimea is located. So it was already occupied, but like, the military actions began on the east into southern 14th. So we do not say that the war has begun, just like the full scale invasion, or the or just the word continued. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:46 Thank you. And when the war happened, millions of Ukrainians have left did your friends leave? What do they tell you about life abroad? Do you feel and believe so many would have started a new life with new universities, new jobs, new everything that it will be more difficult for them to return to Ukraine, once Ukraine has its victory. Sofia Tretiak 21:14 So I do not know, a lot of people who emigrated because I emigrated because I live on the west part of Ukraine in the city of Aviv, which is very close to Polish border. So not a lot of my friends. So actually, I don't really know any who went abroad? Yeah, but it's really important to remember that all my family now is Ukraine. So even though even if I don't know, the people from Ukraine, personally, I still consider them as my close friends as my even probably relatives. So of course, I cannot even imagine how hard it is for them to start and you live in a completely different country, not to have your home not to have for example, your dad or your brother, or anyone because the men are not allowed to leave the country. So it's just extremely, extremely difficult. And when I think about it, it just like, I don't know. It's really hard to describe what I'm feeling. Yes, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 22:22 I understand. And all I can say is Slava okra. Eenie. How do I am Slava, and if I understood correctly, you're now leave. How would you describe the situation? How was the city before you left it to go to your flex experience? And how did you notice a change in this period? Sofia Tretiak 22:45 So the city of Aviv is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the whole Europe. It is also sometimes called a small Paris, although it is much better for me than Paris, which is very, very famous because of its history, because because of its old architecture, and every time the tourists come, they are just fascinated, but by how beautiful the city is. So I always remember that somehow, as Hogwarts. Yeah, I'm a fan of Harry Potter. So every time I was just like walking, hanging out with my friend in the city center, I was feeling like I'm in the fairy tale, like I'm seeing, like, I'm just really enjoying all the beauty of my city. And I really have very positive memories connected to it. And now when I came, yes, it probably looks the same. We still have this old architecture, we still have those very cozy coffee shops and very tasty chocolate. A bit stale. Sometimes I see the faces of the people that are not so as happy as they used to be. I also see a lot of military men who come probably to do some stuff in the city. I also see a lot of posters with some patriotic awards. A lot of people are a lot of people, there's some patriotic and symbolic close. And it just like feels really differently, but at the same time, it gives some kind of energy. Like every time I'm walking in my city, I feel proud. I feel proud of being Ukrainian of being around all those brave people. And yes, a lot of people probably spend their time in the coffee shops or just like or in the places like that because we are trying hard to maintain our economy, like the small businesses should continue working because we already experienced an immense inflation. So It's really hard. So we are trying all the possible ways not just to destroy our economy. That's why That's why we do those things. And I'm really getting upset when some people from foreign countries are saying, Oh, they're sitting in the coffee shops, or all they're doing that they are enjoying, Clive. It does, it does not seem like they have war. And it just really makes me upset because people have not experienced the war. And I don't know, they don't know what to do. Like, of course, we are very upset. And we just like Cliff. This is our reality. Right now we live every time we're hearing those air raid sirens, which means that the rocket can just kill us any moment, but we are still trying to live our life somehow. Because if you don't do it, then it would be just terrible. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 25:51 I agree 100% Because if the economy is destroyed, then the war would have destroyed a lot more than it already did. And that's very difficult to recover from Thank you, Sophia. This was my privilege, such an enriching conversation. And again, all I can say is Slava Ukraini, Sofia Tretiak 26:16 Heroyam Slava! And thank you very much for interviewing me. And I wish a lot of success to your project, which was very, very interesting. Interesting. And I'm actually interested how you came up with this kind of idea what inspired you of launching such an interesting project? Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 26:35 Thank you