Are you currently employed? Yes
What is your occupation? Chemist
Have you completed secondary school? If
yes, where?
I completed Marion M. Graham Collegiate
in Saskatoon, SK.
Have you completed university/college?
If yes, where?
I completed Concordia University in
Montreal, QC.
Languages spoken
Fluently (please include your native language if English is not
your native language)
English and Georgian
List any special training
you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
I had Piano Training in High-School,
Drama Training in High-School and at ASM Performing Arts, as well
as Dance Training in Early Elementary School.
Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade
or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of
study, graduation date and any degree or certification you received.
Concordia University - B. Sc. in
Biochemistry 2009
What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or
resources over past two years?
I have actively supported the Art of Living Foundation since 2006.
The Art of Living Foundation, the largest volunteer-based NGO
in the world, is a humanitarian and charitable organization that
is dedicated to uplifting humanity by strengthening individuals
and communities. It is active in over 140 countries where it stands
as a shining example of what can be accomplished through transcending
the boundaries of religion, nationality, race and language. The
programs, service activities and relief efforts of the Art of
Living Foundation have benefited over 300 million people worldwide.
I am a proud volunteer and soon-to-be Art of Living Foundation
teacher. In fact, I have just completed the first phase of the
two-phase Teachers' Training Program in July 2008. I feel honoured
and excited to help spread the message of a stress-free and violence-free
society that is the core mandate of the Art of Living foundation.
What would be your "dream
job" in life?
My dream job title would be that of
an entrepreneur. An enterpreneur is someone who shows initiative
and is not afraid of risk. Such a mindset is a must if one wants
to quit the "rat race" and start living without the
usual constraints of time and money. Real-estate investing is
my version of enterpreneurship and it will allow me to pursue
my greater vision of service to the world.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most
influence on your life? Why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of
the Art of Living Foundation, has had the most profound influence
on my life. He is a spiritual and humanitarian leader whose vision
is a stress-free and violence-free world. His many service initiatives
include conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, poverty
alleviation, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, accessible
education, and campaigns against female foeticide and child labour.
Befittingly, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been nominated for the Nobel
Peace Prize on several occasions. My personal connection to him
goes back to 2003, when I first signed-up for an Art of Living
course. The course was based on a powerful breathing technique
that eliminates stress and tension from the body and mind. Since
then I have done more Art of Living courses than I can count,
including the Yes!+ or Youth Empowerment & Skills Training
Seminar. These courses have taken my life to a whole new level
of excellence. So much so, that I am now in the process of becoming
an Art of Living Foundation teacher! In a nutshell, Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar has showed me that happiness does not depend on matter,
it depends on attitude and understanding.
What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being
in this or any other beauty pageant competition)
My proudest personal accomplishment
has been organizing the largest Yes!+ or Youth Empowerment &
Skills Training Seminar in Canada. Yes!+ is all about building
dynamic leaders for tomorrow. It is an inspiring program that
promotes physical and mental well-being, Leadership, responsibility,
and service. What a jewel-of-a-course! Our Montreal team put in
a lot of time and effort to break the Canadian record, juggling
personal commitments and work obligations to pour every drop of
energy into making Yes!+ happen in a big way. Yes!+ is a life-changing
experience and I am reminded of this fact with every transformation
that I witness. What else could be more rewarding?
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to
do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to use my background
in chemistry and biochemistry to solve problems in the developing
and developed world. I would like to work in a national or multi-national
government agency that is dedicated to uplifting humanity through
health, education, sustainable development and/or conflict resolution
programs. To that end, I have accepted a position as a chemist
within Canada Border Services Agency. I believe that this is a
step in the right direction as it will allow me to not only network
but also be eligible for relevant employment positions within
other government agencies. My top priority is to incorporate public
service into my career and daily life. As a side project, I am
learning the art of real estate investing, so that I can be financially
free and independent. I have taken specialized real estate investing
workshops offered by rich dad poor dad education® and I plan
to purchase my first property this year.
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was "made" in Georgia and
born in Russia, where I spent the first decade of my life. Russia
is a country of ancient heritage and its people have a deep reverence
for the great fortitude of their nation. They have experienced
extreme poverty, harsh weather conditions, and many other adverse
situations. Yet they have consistenly prevailed over their circumstances.
It is not surprising that survival and persevearance were important
themes of my childhood. Whereas in russia daily life is often
considered to be demanding and problematic, in Georgia life is
about celebrating with friends and family. Since my ethnicity
is Georgian, I grew up with a unique mix of influences. On the
one hand, I felt the need to protect myself against possible hardships
and, on the other hand, I was tempted to surrender my childish
problems to the fates and enjoy the happiness and security offered
by great company, delicious food and stories of many Georgian
heroes. My summers in Georgia going to the market, playing in
the forest, and directing street-plays with the neighbourhood
kids, stand out as the finest experiences of my early childhood.
My late childhood years were marked by a big move to canada. At
the age of ten, I followed my parents and two sisters to Saskatoon,
SK, where I spent the next eight years of my life. Naturally,
the first few months in Canada were devoted to learning the language,
assimilating the culture and making new friends. It was a challenging
period where I would often daydream about having a friend from
a different country who would easily understand my plight. At
the same time, I was filled with excitement about the future and
a drive to succeed. I was very proud of my father whose brilliance
and determination brought my family to Canada - a country of peace
and opportunity. As a university professor, he instilled in us
the utmost importance of education and hard work. My mother did
the same but she also placed great emphasis on conserving our
Georgian heritage. She would lovingly force us to read Georgian
history and fiction, despite our many protests and complaints.
I was lucky to have the companionship of my sisters with whom
I shared our great adventure of coming to Canada. My older sister
was a role model in all respects: she was the smartest and most
creative person I knew. I don't think the sentiment was mutual,
but I followed her around anyway. My younger sister was both a
"nuisance" and a playmate: a nuisance because I had
to babysit her and a playmate because we both shared a great imagination.
Childhood is a time of discovery and amusement. My childhood set
the stage for many exciting experiences.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I have worked as a Fast Food Restaurant
Employee, Math Tutor, Day-Care Animator, audio tape Transcriber,
Telemarketer, and Lab Assistant.
List any volunteering you have done.
Art of Living Foundation Volunteer -
2006 to Present
Child Animator at the Young Parents' Program - 2002 to 2004
Hospital Volunteer at Saskatoon City Hospital - 1999 to 2001
Where is the most interesting place you have been?
In the winter of 2007/2008, I had both
the honour and the privilege of travelling to India with the best
and the brightest young leaders from around the world! We gathered
for the first-ever Yes!+ (Youth Empowerment & Skills Training)
Winter Break Program, which included yoga & meditation courses,
service projects, as well as exciting travel excursions. India
is a land of adventure, spirituality, festivals, architectural
marvels, and natural wonders all rolled into one. It is a place
where you can dive deep into yourself and come out with a newfound
love for all of humanity. The colourful silk saris, the aromas
of burning incense and fresh sandalwood, and the towering corporate
buildings of Bangalore painted a lively picture of the old coexisting
with the new. I treasure the memories that I made in India and
look forward to my return.
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