At the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology of Vyatka State University - however, as well as at the whole university - Iren Sergeevna Kraeva needs no introduction. She is invariably close to the students, in the thick of things, feeling the pulse of the current life, being the initiator of many undertakings.
Iren is a 2020 graduate of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology.
While studying in high school, I had doubts, choosing a professional path, a university to continue my education. At some point, I was fascinated by scientists, researchers, people in white coats doing experiments in modern laboratories. And I settled on the direction of training "Fundamental and Applied Chemistry".
The first year was quite difficult: the difficulties of adapting to an independent life away from home affected. Sometimes there were doubts about the correctness of the choice made. But, as often happens, there are people who are destined to become very important in our lives. So I had a girlfriend at the university - we have already begun to analyze together, get used to the realities of the student body. As a result, by the second year we made a firm decision: we want to live life to the fullest, to use the opportunities of the student time to the maximum. And away we go!
The girls successfully studied and at the same time participated in all the events of InKhimEk. By the New Year, they organized the “Chemical Christmas Tree” holidays, led their own groups in social networks, but most importantly, they helped freshmen, helping with advice and anticipating possible problems: personal experience turned out to be very useful.
.jpg)
At that time, the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology began to actively develop project activities - Irene was at its epicenter. She joined a specially created headquarters: she coordinated the process, selected mentors, delved into all the subtleties of the new direction. As a result, Iren went the whole way of InChemEk’s design history: from its origins to gaining rich experience by the institute, reaching the level of creating their own start-ups by student teams, bringing victories in grant competitions, and then real income.
- Why did the project activity captivate you so much, having become one of the main areas of work already as an employee of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology? What do you see as its meaning?
- Getting out of your comfort zone is important here. When in the first year teams are formed from unfamiliar guys, they need to communicate somehow. These conditions are close to those that exist in real life, when we graduate from a university, get a job, get into a new team.
In my opinion, project activity is a demo version of the future adult life. Our project intensive lasts two weeks - during this time the guys can really learn a lot, discover a lot for themselves.
Acting as a key organizer of project activities at her native institute, Irene never forgets what she calls her “internal mission”. The interviewee explained:
- The desire to help students - first of all, first-year students - get comfortable at the university, feel comfortable and confident here has grown into a serious tutoring story. We show the guys the opportunity to individually build their own route within the walls of Vyatka State University. The university provides a lot of opportunities, about which students need to be informed in a timely manner.
It must be remembered that completely different people come to us, so the approach to each should be individual.
- Iren, your desire to help students, to promote the speedy adaptation of first-year students is very impressive. How do you implement it?
- I carefully follow the situation, I delve into everything, I work closely with the curators. Our task is to convey to students: if you are faced with problems, do not be silent. We will definitely help. There is always a way out.
Iren said:
- There are three knitted plush flasks at my workplace. Students come to me, take one of them and start talking about what excited them, angered them, created a problem. In the course of the story, and sometimes our discussion, the problem loses its sharpness, a solution comes - it turns out that everything is not as bad as it seemed. I rejoice together with the guys: both for them and for myself. I really appreciate that they trust me, they turn to me for advice. And that I can help people.
- Iren, do you know all the students of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology?
- Yes, sure. All students of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology and half of the university.
Iren Kraeva is successfully engaged in research work, being a graduate student of the Department of Chemistry and Technology of Polymer Processing and an engineer at the Polymer Materials Competence Center. In the summer, she will once again act as the executive secretary of the admission committee of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology.
Iren Sergeevna shared:
- For me it is very responsible. I would like to show applicants the prospects that open up for them at Vyatka State University. We not only talk about our institute, project activities, the possibility of individual support to children and their parents. If they have a desire, we can conduct an excursion, introduce them to teachers, and demonstrate equipment. It is important for us that when people come to us, they feel a friendly, warm atmosphere, see that they are welcome here.
