My Path to Success at Tbilisi State University
I was just a fifteen-year-old girl when I already knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wrote in my notebook that I wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree from the number one and top university in the entire Caucasus region: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Every time I said this, my parents, my entire family, and my relatives smiled. They couldn’t believe that a girl without any privileges or money could get into such a university.
It was a time when Georgia's educational system was so corrupt that gaining admission to universities required a significant amount of money. My cousin mocked me, saying, “You won’t make it. I’ve had tutors since childhood, I have money, and it’s still hard for me to get in—how could you possibly do it?” But I didn’t listen to anyone. I gathered my documents and applied to the university. Back then, there was no option to apply online in Georgia; everything had to be done in person. I needed to pass three exams with the highest grades to be admitted to Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Georgia's newly elected president, Mikheil Saakashvili, was against corruption and had just initiated new educational reforms in 2004, the year I was an entrant. I must admit, I was lucky that he somewhat deterred people from involving money in admissions, which helped those like me who only had their knowledge to rely on—no money, no trust funds.
It was a hot August summer day. My blind parents and I left our village and took a two-hour bus ride to the university for my first day of exams. The first exam was in Georgian language and literature, where I had to write an essay about freedom. There were other options, but I chose the free theme about freedom. I started writing and let the ideas flow. The exam lasted two long hours while my poor parents waited outside, sitting on the university steps, as no one was allowed inside. That night, we stayed at my uncle’s house in Tbilisi.
The second day, I had my history exam, which was on great topics that I loved. I felt confident and knew I could do it. The third exam was in a foreign language, and I managed that well too. At the end of the week, we would find out the results and whether I made it or not. Still, it was the hottest day of summer when the three of us—my mom, my dad, and I—went to the university to check my scores. It was my first victory over everyone who doubted me, mocked me, or didn’t believe in my abilities. I was the luckiest girl in the world. I did it! I was admitted to Tbilisi State University. My entire school, village, and region were so proud of me. I was the only student from my school to be admitted to Tbilisi State University that year, 2004.
With that problem solved, a new challenge arose: where would I live in Tbilisi? In Georgia, universities don’t provide housing, so students must rent a place off-campus or be lucky enough to have an apartment or relatives in the city. My uncle and my grandparents on my mother’s side lived in Tbilisi, and they decided to let me stay with them.
My first day at university, on September 15, 2004, was magical. I worried about what to wear and how to present myself. Somehow, I managed to get new clothes and looked classy and amazing. My parents didn’t accompany me that day. The cousin who had doubted me insisted on coming along, eager to see if I was really a student there. That day I celebrated my first victory over everyone who didn’t believe in me.
In 2006, for the first time in Georgia's universities, there were student government elections. My friends and I founded a student organization called “ASA” (New Students’ Alliance). After the elections, I became a member of the student government as part of the Department of Culture. I accomplished many brilliant projects during that time. In 2007, I organized an extraordinary exhibition. I went to Georgia’s Parliament and asked parliamentarians to donate personal items, which I sold at a student fair I organized. I also invited them to participate in the event. Opposition political parties bought ties, pens, and other items from their rivals, and vice versa. It was a great day, covered by all Georgian TV channels. With the money we collected, I helped an orphanage in Gldani and brought joy to some children.