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20.10.2025
Finding Herself in the Shadow of War: Vesna’s Story
Fourteen-year-old Vesna lives in Kharkiv, where the sounds of a big, busy city intertwine with the echoes of air raid sirens. She is a girl searching for her place in the world while balancing dreams, responsibilities, and the realities of war. Her story is that of an ordinary teenager striving for self-expression despite the challenges of time and circumstance.
Vesna is a ninth-grade student. Her days start early, though sometimes she allows herself to wake up just five to ten minutes before classes, which begin at 8:30 a.m. After school, her schedule is tightly packed with additional activities. Alongside English, which she finds difficult due to a lack of time, Vesna studies at two extracurricular schools.
Art school, where she is now in her tenth and final year, has been a real test. Two years ago, she wanted to quit because of burnout, but her teacher and her mom persuaded her to finish the program. This summer, Vesna came to terms with that decision, realizing that the diploma might come in handy.
But Vesna’s true passion is cinema. She enrolled in a state-run television school, where she studied the art of filmmaking. This school brings her the greatest satisfaction, as it allows her to immerse herself in a world that genuinely captivates her.
Art school, where she is now in her tenth and final year, has been a real test. Two years ago, she wanted to quit because of burnout, but her teacher and her mom persuaded her to finish the program. This summer, Vesna came to terms with that decision, realizing that the diploma might come in handy.
But Vesna’s true passion is cinema. She enrolled in a state-run television school, where she studied the art of filmmaking. This school brings her the greatest satisfaction, as it allows her to immerse herself in a world that genuinely captivates her.
I’m interested in everything except acting. I’m good at camera work, but I want to develop in directing and screenwriting, because it’s pretty difficult, and I want to overcome that difficulty,
Only on weekends does Vesna get to meet up with her friends. She rarely texts first, preferring live conversations or calls to messaging. Their meetings usually take place around the city. They walk, talk, and laugh. Recently, her parents have started letting her go out on her own, whereas before her mom was always nearby, watching out for her safety.
I don’t really stress about it. I understand why my mom worries, especially when it’s late or dangerous,
Lately, she decided to take a break from meeting up to spend some time alone with herself.
I did this deliberately. I need time for myself, because recently I spent too much time hanging out with a friend, and it drained my energy,
Cinema as a Path to Self-Discovery
Cinema has become a way for Vesna to understand herself. She joined the arts lab of the Voices of Children Foundation, run together with film director Marysia Nikitiuk.
I applied because I’m interested in cinema, I want to figure it out,
First online meetings, and later live filming, opened up new horizons for her. Now Vesna is thinking about which direction in cinema to pursue; directing and screenwriting attract her the most because they pose a challenge. For Vesna, film is also a way to process her own emotions. She is drawn to movies about teenagers and their relationships, especially with parents.
I’m going through a difficult period with my mom right now. I watch films about daughters and mothers to better understand myself,
Classics and stories about fashion also have a place in her cinematic world, but it is teenage dramas that help her search for answers to her inner questions.
Life Under Shelling
Living in Kharkiv, a city under constant Russian attacks, adds another layer of complexity to Vesna’s story. She tries not to dwell on the danger, focusing instead on herself and her daily life.
I live in a district where there has been only one strike near a residential building in three years. I think I just try to believe that everything is more or less okay,
Vesna copes with stress and anxiety by scrolling on her phone, though she admits it’s not the healthiest way. Once, during a theater performance by her friends, an air raid alert went off. Everyone stayed in their seats, and the atmosphere remained calm. Vesna doesn’t feel intense fear. Perhaps because of her parents’ calm reactions.
My parents said they’d come out to get me, but overall, everyone acted as if nothing had happened. They’re always calm, don’t react emotionally, so I don’t stress either,
Still, the war leaves its mark. Vesna’s apartment is full of mirrors, in the hallway, in her room, everywhere. During strikes, she sometimes slept in the corridor, but the thought of glass shattering wouldn’t leave her alone.
We never went to the basement. I don’t know why. Maybe my parents didn’t think it was necessary,
The Challenges of Adolescence
Vesna is 14, and she feels her emotional world shifting.
I feel mentally thrown around, back and forth. I didn’t expect it to be this abrupt,
Tense relations with her mom, who dismisses Vesna’s dream of working in cinema, add to the strain. Her mom suggests “safe” professions: medicine, IT, working as a flight attendant or pilot, especially since many in the family worked at the airport. But Vesna doesn’t see herself in any of those fields.
If a person doesn’t like it, they won’t be able to work,
Her social circle is changing, too. Old friends are gradually drifting away as Vesna’s interests evolve. New people she meets through projects align more closely with her aspirations.
It’s important to me that a person can hold a conversation and listen to me. I’m an extrovert, it’s easy for me to be around new people, but I don’t go out very often,
Despite her packed schedule, she finds time to reflect. Her favorite moment is when she’s alone in the kitchen, without her phone. These quiet minutes help her process her dreams, fears, and plans.
This is my time when I just think,
Vesna doesn’t fight the challenges of war or adolescence; she goes with the flow, dealing with problems as they arise. Inside her, there is a sense that some force is holding her in this world, and she tries to listen to herself and find her own path. Her story is not only about surviving in wartime, but about the aspiration to discover who you are, understand your dreams, and find your place in a dangerous, constantly changing world.
There are millions of stories like hers: Ukrainian children face anxiety and stress caused by war every day, and many have lost their homes or loved ones. Support them with your donation.
There are millions of stories like hers: Ukrainian children face anxiety and stress caused by war every day, and many have lost their homes or loved ones. Support them with your donation.
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