E045 Ioana Istrate

Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 0:08 femininity is powerful in all its forms exceptional women, career 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 Ioana Istrate. Ioana is a student of Natural Sciences and her hobbies include socializing with friends, reading books, go into the gym, and especially playing volleyball, she was accepted to some of the best educational institutions in Romania. And she is constantly aiming to get better. Ioana How are you today? Ioana Istrate 0:57 Hi, thank you for having me. Well, I am feeling great on being on this podcast. And I'm a little bit nervous, but so happy at the same time. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 1:10 Well, it's an adventure. It's new emotions, and I'm with you. So don't worry if you need help with anything or to relax. And to begin this with an easy question. If your friends were to describe your Juana to say in their words, what they feel or think about your personality, what would they say, Ioana Istrate 1:31 I feel like my friends, my closest friends, they would probably say, like, 100% that I'm crazy one. But my friends in general, I think they will say that I'm creative, and sporty girl, they're always laughing about me because I like playing volleyball. And I used to go to the gym, and now I'm just taking a break. And they're always saying that I'm a gym rat. So I believe that they're considering me a your self confidence and a creative human being. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:08 Thank you. So if I heard you correctly, your closest friends think you're crazy. And other friends will think you're a gym rat. You're someone confident and creative. Is this correct? Yes. Ioana Istrate 2:22 Totally. Right. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 2:24 What does it mean for you to be crazy. Ioana Istrate 2:27 I mean, being crazy for me means not staying in a place, and hanging around with anyone, anytime. And having such a pleasure to meet new people and being like messing around with new people. And being, you know, crazy. This, this word means to me so much because I consider myself to. And once I get to know a person really, really good. I would present myself as a crazy one. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 3:10 I like that, to me, it makes me feel you're like someone with a sense of adventure, like a pirate or something like that. So if I understood you correctly, the word crazy is important for you. Because you would like to meet new people to mess around to do new things not to stay stuck or stagnant in some place, but to explore new emotions with new people and new adventures. Did I understand Correct? Yes, totally. Right. Thank you. And you said your creative. What is creativity for you? And how do you express it in your life or actions? Ioana Istrate 3:47 Well, good questions. Thank you for asking me this. Because creative. It's another word that it's so important for me because I consider myself creative when I'm alone. And I'm at my lowest and I don't know what to do with my life. So that's the moment the right one when I'm starting being creative, like new ideas are coming through, and I'm feeling so happy to introduce them in my circle, or my friend circle or in my classroom, you know, because we're, especially when I'm in high school, me and my your colleagues are going through so many emotions. So when we are studying, and we need to be creative, like 24/7 and it's really, really hard. You know, you're just being too serious and you can concentrate and I believe that being creative, and you're going to be creative when you are at your lowest and you're not you don't know what to do anymore in different situations. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 4:49 Thank you actually, yes, I remember there is an old philosopher who used to say that creativity comes from the tragedy of life, that only depressed people. Article most creative, but then I understand that sometimes you need to study a lot you feel like you have to perform, it's very difficult and very stressful. And that creates in you when you're at your lowest point, doing something new new ideas, new ways, and that is creativity. Did I understand, right? Ioana Istrate 5:20 Yes, yes, this is creativity for me. And I really love it and believe in this. I like Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 5:27 that. And well, how is creativity related to being crazy? Because you mentioned that part of being crazy as being with people. And part of being creative is being alone. So they seem to be like opposites or contradictory or different times? Can you speak about that? Ioana Istrate 5:45 Yes, good point, or they're, like the opposite. But I feel like when you're crazy, you're just Yes, of course. As I said, you're just messing around. But again, you're at your lowest and you're, you don't know what to do with your life. And that's why you are crazy and getting crazier and crazier. And that's when creativity hits you the most. And without craziness, I believe that creativity does not exist. You know what I mean? Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:18 I think I understand. So at your lowest point, you feel, no, I don't want to only have a limited life, and you begin to mess around to get crazier to explore new things. And that generates in you the energy of creativity. Is this correct? Ioana Istrate 6:35 Yes. Yes, I totally agree. And this is what I think Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 6:39 very, very interesting and good. And you mentioned that you're someone very self confident. What does that mean? How are you self confident? And can you speak a bit more about that? Ioana Istrate 6:52 Well, I believe I would describe the self confidence, in many words, but especially not caring about what other people's opinion. And I truly believe in that. And you are not born with that mentality. You're just experiencing things in life. And that's how you're not going to care about anyone's opinion anymore. And this is going to help you so much for your self confidence. Because you're just being with yourself, you know, I believe that you are so confident when we are kids, because we don't care about anyone, or even our parents, parents opinions, because you're a kid and you're doing crazy stuff, and your excuses that you're only a kid. And that's why I believe myself. Confidence stands by not caring at all about anyone in this is how I'm getting through, you know, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 7:53 thank you. Again, if I understood you correctly, you mentioned that you sometimes might feel at your lowest point and you spoke about needing to study which is other people telling you what to do what to expect. And therefore to break out of that low point. You need to have self confidence so that you can be crazy. And that means that you shouldn't listen to other people. You listen to yourself and exploration and wanting the exploration of new emotions, new people, new things, which allows you to be creative, and therefore confidence or self confidence is what allows you to be crazy, and you're in the moment so much that you don't care what other people think. Is this correct? Yes. Ioana Istrate 8:38 I couldn't say that better. Yes, you're welcome. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 8:41 And can you speak about the gym, you at least now you said you're taking a break, but you used to be a gym arrived, you loved it very much. Is there an emotion that being in the gym gives you that you love very much, maybe when you feel stronger, you feel more confident, so you can be more crazy. Or maybe when you are in the gym, you're in so in the moment like a kid, that you're not listening to anybody else and you can be yourself or what is it about the gym? That is so fascinating. Ioana Istrate 9:12 Thank you for asking me because I just wanting to tell you that Jim represents your comfort zone. And I believe that if you're wanting to go to the gym, or are wanting to experiencing this thing, I would totally agree. And I'm pro going to the gym and makes you not stronger only on your physic but typically it will help you so much. And yes, you should not care about other people because other people at the gym especially, they're just minding their own business, and they don't care about you. So for instance, I used to do at work class. And now of course, as you said, I'm taking a break, but no one cared about anyone, people would come to you, and try to help you just not hurt yourself. And I love that place. And I still love it because my friends are going over there while I'm taking a rest. And you should love it. And I saw, for example, I'm scrolling through tick tock and I always see that people are just so rude and mean, in USA, especially, I mean, I don't get it, he you should feel so confident. And this represents your comfort zone. Again, you know, and I don't get it, why people are so rude to you, when you're just trying to build yourself to be a new version version of yourself. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 10:50 Thank you, in my experience, and I agree with Marcus Aurelius, who used to be the Caesar of Rome. And one of my favorite books is his notebook, his journal, where he used to write his ideas. And in one of them, he said that people who are rude, they actually hate themselves. And so that pain they have inside they have to put it on other people. And therefore, people who are fully critical, they have voice in their head, that is mean and rude to them all the time. And there are so when someone is rude, I feel a bit pity for them because they're in pain. And again, if I understood you correctly, you love it when people are helping each other. When you are developing together, maybe it's part of being crazy, but you're in your comfort zone where you're being supportive, being positive and helping each other confidence grows so that outside of the gym, you can be yourself and you don't need to feel weak and dependent on other people's opinions. Is this correct? Ioana Istrate 11:53 Yes, I truly believe in that gym should be totally our comfort zone. And you should not be ashamed of anything when you're going there because people shouldn't mind their own business Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 12:04 for sure. And as long as you're progressing, you're a winner because you're improving every day and you mentioned Tik Tok, you feel self confident? Well, a lot of teenagers, a lot of young people, etc. When they're on Tik Tok, where they're on social media, they lose their self confidence because they compare themselves to celebrate these two people who choose Perfect pictures, perfect videos of perfect lives that are not even real. And it destroys their self esteem and confidence. How do you keep your confidence if you're scrolling through tick tock and social media? Ioana Istrate 12:43 Oh, thank you for asking me this because I had a problem back then, with Tiktok with social media in general. And now, again, I really don't care because I know how things truly are. And now I'm not afraid of being myself, whenever wherever I want, you know. And when I'm scrolling through Tik Tok, besides the fact that I'm, I see all the time, girls that are looking like perfect blue eyes, brown hair, or dark eyes, blonde hair, and perfect bodies with the perfect features. Like I don't care anymore, because I know this is paying because they have the money that we've done. And I don't want to say that they are not putting in real life. But they're not that perfect as we are seeing them in social media. Because I always I hear things like social media is fake. And I truly believe in that. Because not everything we're seeing on tick tock or social media is true. And everyone should know that this is fake and this is not real life real life is that we're all the same. And we're all so beautiful. Not only outside, but inside especially and I believe that person is perfect when doesn't doesn't know how to behave with other people and respect each other and love someone. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 14:10 Thank you. That's so interesting. And it's an important topic for me. So I will ask again, you mentioned your love to be crazy your love new emotions, but at the same time, you're like people who know how to behave, who are respectful, et cetera. Usually girls who like new emotions, like craziness, they like rude bad boys because they give them drama and full of emotions. So can you tell me a bit more about that because girls will love new emotions will say a good polite guy is so boring. Ioana Istrate 14:41 You said that girls love drama. Yes. Yes. love drama. Totally. I can. I can disagree with that. But I believe that some of the girls believe that nerd boys or serious boys are just so boring because They didn't actually talk to a one. And we love bad boys in general, because they're the ones who are just taking care of themselves. And I don't know, they look the hardest, you know, beside you, every other boy. And I believe that's why so many girls are choosing a bad boy. And I don't think this is a toxic trait. But this is just a preference. And I'm so sorry for the girls who are just getting rejected, or are being played by any other guy that is this toxic, you know, that loves drama and likes to play girls, or even boys. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 15:43 Thank you, I understand your love drama, but not when it's toxic or painful. But when it's part of the messing with people as being crazy, and drama and adventures and new emotions, new experiences not rudeness or impoliteness. Again, if I understood you correctly, and to ask even a bit more about you, you spoke about people about who they are, do you feel people's energy is that the most interesting and attractive part of the person? Have you ever met people where you had instant chemistry from the first second, where you felt Oh, my God, I know this person all my life or because you know, people, you're always open, you're always friendly. And everybody seems like a best friend from the first second, Ioana Istrate 16:33 I felt that, like so many times with so many people, especially when I got in high school because I believe that when I got in high school, I started experiencing, socializing with other people, and feeling so great with new people, you know, because I stay for eight years with the same people. And I couldn't feel the same energy from high school and school. And when I got in high school, I met so many girls. And I remember one grow. For the first time when we met, I felt like we're gonna be so good friends. And after a while, I don't believe in this. But this is so crazy. We are born in the same month. And it's only like eight days apart. And we have the same zodiac and stuff like this. And I felt so like, she's my sister from another world, you know, but the same energy I had when I was in the first grade. And I met my best friend. And she's actually after 11 years, she's still my best friend. And I felt that chemistry with her. And I couldn't thank God for Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 17:52 anything. What's the month where you're both born? Ioana Istrate 17:56 December, were at the end of December. I'm 21st. And my best friend for from high school is 29. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 18:05 That's so interesting, just near the Christmas period. And you spoke about meeting new people, do you feel the pandemic somehow destroy the social skills of many younger people that because they stayed so long with masks or at home and quarantine, they became text overts where they know how to text but to have a real conversation in real life that is lost or you believe you and the people you know are not like that. Ioana Istrate 18:35 I truly think that the pandemic had a really, really hard impact on not only ourselves, but on our families and friends. And this was like I would say 10% bad, so good. And 90% of bad because so many people go were at their lowest in the pandemic. And now they're totally different people because I was the first generation who had their exam in Romania in the eighth grade exam, to go in high school in the pandemic, and it was so weird because I didn't see my colleagues with I stayed with them, like eight years, and I didn't see them the last three months of our school journey. And it was so different and I saw different people because some of them were just behaving so rude mean, or some of them. I felt them like strangers, you know. And after the exam we are we were in the pandemic, I met new people. And they told me that the pandemic got them through so many things and through so many situations, and I felt so bad with them. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 20:00 Thank you, I can imagine the emotions you had, especially you, who loves people, and people are so important for you. For me, I believe we create our own small universe, where we should fill it with the right great people who match us and not let any toxic people in. And just because some people grew up with us, doesn't mean they're not toxic, and we don't owe them to be their friends, we should create our own reality filled with positive, optimistic, interesting, open minded people who are a bit crazy. And I have a bit more since you spoke about Romania, as well as you are part of the generation who grew up on Tiktok on social media, on so many things that come from different cultures, do you feel your culture is like 90% Romanian? Or are you more of a citizen of the world where you took a bit from all the cultures, and therefore you became something new and different, Ioana Istrate 21:05 I believe that my generation is specially we became something different. Like, we don't relate to the Romanian culture, like any more. For instance, my friends don't like the stuff like Romanian stuff, or things that the Romanians used to do in the 19th century, or 20th century. And I believe we are the new generation and the new stuff. And we're just trying to experience and getting through other things, you know, like, we, there's so many Romanians that are going in different countries, because we can't stand this country anymore. And the culture is so beautiful, and everyone loves it, especially people who are not from this country. But us Romanians, so we don't relate anymore, especially again, my generation, Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 22:06 thank you. So if I could explain it, you don't like to feel like the pressure of some culture or something telling you how to behave or how to be. You want to feel that self confidence of listening to yourself, so that you can find your people mess with them be crazy and do what you want, like a child with totally freedom, following your emotions and flowing with them, rather than obeying or doing what some old custom tradition or other people tell you what to do, is this correct? Ioana Istrate 22:43 Yes, yes, it is correct. Especially again, from for next generations and my generation, we would like to experience new stuff. And we don't like to be limited to a thing or two experiences, we want freedom. And I believe that we love our country, and we love our culture. But we don't like to be pushed to that. And we would love to, I don't know, read or talk about other people or other countries, rather than our country. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 23:22 Thank you. And so if I understood some things that are important for you, you mentioned now freedom, self confidence is important. Creativity and not feeling stuck, or being at your lowest, being crazy. Go into the gym, being with nice people in your comfort zone. You don't like rude people. And in addition to all of this, what else inspires you, you know, gives you that feeling where you're jumping out of bed, feeling passion for life, like everything is so electric, and so new and so exciting. Ioana Istrate 23:57 I think that this feeling is generated by especially my family and the taste of success, because everyone wants this type of thing, the success, money, especially fame, but I know that I need to work hard to get over there. And I will not be as this successful or this famous in this country. So I will need to get out of my comfort zone and go in another country and make new things to other people. And I need to tell people, my ideas. Abdulaziz M Alhamdan 24:38 Thank you, Jana. This was such an enriching conversation. This was wonderful. I wish you success. I wish you to become famous and to share your ideas all over the world. And again, this was my honor, my privilege and a truly great time. Ioana Istrate 24:55 Thank you so much for having me again, and thank you for inviting me into this last gasp it was amazing