From LIS to Public Health Advocacy:

Could you provide a short overview of your academic journey since leaving LIS and share what drew you to your chosen field?

After graduating from LIS, I began my journey at Maastricht University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in European Public Health. Finding something after grade 12 was very challenging. I struggled to pinpoint my interests since there are so many possibilities. I knew I wanted to study at a university in English and in a different country, but I wasn’t sure what to focus on. After much searching, someone suggested exploring the health field, and I discovered the only undergraduate program in Public Health taught in English in Europe.

In my third year, I had the incredible opportunity to work on my thesis and placement course in collaboration with experts worldwide. I chose to work with colleagues in New Zealand at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, where I focused my thesis on oncology patient pathways in healthcare systems.

After graduating, I knew I wanted to pursue a Master’s degree, since public health is so broad. The field can go into different areas like law and policy, business, consulting, pharmaceuticals, epidemiology, and biotech. I discovered a unique program at Dalarna University in Sweden—a Master of Science in Sexual, Reproductive, and Perinatal Health, Maternal and Child Health. It is the only English-taught Master’s program in Europe specialising in reproductive health, an important area in need of more research. Without hesitation, I applied, and I have no regrets. It is a very international program with different professional backgrounds.

During this Master’s program, I also work remotely as a data extractor for a research project at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. My role involves contributing to a research article on Noma, a rare and devastating disease affecting children. This experience has deepened my passion for the healthcare field, as I’ve witnessed numerous research gaps that need to be addressed.

How did the IB curriculum and aspects of the IB learner profile prepare you for university?

One thing I still vividly remember is the relief I felt during the courses on how to search for literature in databases and write a thesis—both in my Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Thanks to the IB, where we had to complete the Extended Essay and Internal Assessments (IAs), I had already learned these skills. It was such a relief to be able to lean back and watch others struggle while I felt prepared ;).

IB also taught me how to properly organise and manage my time, which gave me a significant head start at university. Being part of an international community was an incredible experience. Surrounded by so many cultures and traditions, I learned so much and became more open-minded.

How did the community and network at university enhance your goals, and how can LIS students begin building networks now?

LinkedIn is the platform. The earlier the better! Personally, I love LinkedIn, but I know many people feel pressured when they see posts from “successful” individuals showcasing their paths and accomplishments. However, I feel like this is such a great way of learning that everyone has a unique path and you can even draw inspiration from them.

Connect with people who resonate with your interests, have cool profiles, or work in areas you’re curious about. Who knows? They might share ideas about where to study, how to find a job, or even post about topics that spark new interests for you. I feel like LinkedIn makes networking less intimidating, removing the anxiety of being overly formal. For example, I’ve messaged professionals I admire in healthcare and research, asking about their career paths and how they got started.

Recently, I attended a Science Job Fair at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, getting to know so many people and companies that could help me in my career. That is all thanks to Linkedin, I would have never found it otherwise.

Speaking of, connect with me on Linkedin! I’d love seeing what you do 🙂 Hit me a message, rant to me or just tell me that you read my interview! Just write my full name on linkedin and you got me: Anastasia Porojkow.

“Thanks to the IB, I had already learnt these skills. It was such a relief to lean back and watch the others (at University) struggle, while I felt prepared.”

Can you describe some challenges you faced during university?

Studying, memorizing, and performing under exam conditions has always been challenging for me. In the Netherlands, we had exams after every course, almost every month, which I found amazing! This approach allowed me to focus on one course at a time before moving on to the next, which was much more manageable.

In my Master’s program, the learning method is even better—there are no exams. Instead, we write short papers applying the knowledge we’ve gained to real-life scenarios. Since I started learning like this, I’ve been able to truly understand and retain what I’ve learned. At LIS, my cohort was affected by COVID during our exam period. Instead of writing exams, our coursework, such as Internal Assessments (IAs), determined our final grades. This not only reduced the pressure but also allowed us to show our knowledge and skills in a more meaningful way. My advice is to put extra effort into your main assignments that are a big part of the grades!

What were the biggest academic or personal challenges you encountered, and how did you navigate them?

Public health involves a lot of statistics. I’ll admit, I’ve never loved math. Dutch programs are known for being relatively easy to get into, but staying in can be incredibly challenging due to the workload. For me, the toughest moment came when I failed the statistics exam twice. On the third attempt, if you fail, you’re removed from the program. The pressure was massive, especially as I watched others get kicked out of the Bachelor’s program while some advanced to the next academic year. At that point, I decided to throw myself into memorising every single detail about statistics. Active recall became my lifesaver. It was exhausting, but I realized that my mindset was key.

I had to tell myself not to give up and to focus on the positives. If I passed, it would be incredible. But even if I failed, I reminded myself it would still be okay. There would still be so many opportunities for me, even if this path didn’t work out.

To my absolute shock, I ended up scoring the highest in the class! I’m still amazed by it and by myself. It taught me that commitment and mindset really can make a difference.

How did you balance the rigorous academic demands of university with your personal life and extracurricular activities?

Organising! Organise your work and time, go out and explore the city! I also struggle with motivation and procrastination, but when you have people around you that do the same as you, it helps tremendously. You are never alone, there are people walking the same path as you, use the opportunity to connect and gossip about University.

In what ways has your university education influenced your career decisions or opened unexpected opportunities?

As said, time management is so important. Try out different methods of studying with breaks, try out studying at night or in the morning, find your perfect pace.

Public health opens a lot of doors. I still feel overwhelmed about which path to take, since I like everything in this field. At Maastricht University, the public health program exposed me to nearly everything you can do in public health. The courses were taught by professionals and academics from diverse fields, including lawyers, doctors, engineers, and consultants, who showed us how their disciplines intersect with healthcare.

To my surprise, I resonated most with the lawyers and policy experts. I never imagined myself even considering the legal field, but these turning points happen, and you’ll be amazed at how unexpected interests can emerge.

What struck me the most, was living in New Zealand. I learned so much over there, not only academically, but also just living there. I’d love to consider working there someday. A few months before going, I could never have imagined an opportunity like this coming my way. I’m sure many people can relate when I say I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome. But time and again, random and unexpected opportunities would hit me. For example, I never thought I’d move to Sweden for a Master’s, but here I am.

Patience is key. Opportunities will come naturally, and you have the power to navigate them. My advice? Go for it. You never know where life might take you, and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

What advice would you give current LIS students who aspire to attend your university, especially regarding preparation during high school?

I understand the pressure, I really feel you. IB is hard and I know you can’t wait to get it over with. Just try your best. I didn’t get the perfect grade as my final mark, and yet I ended up in an amazing field that I never imagined myself in. There will always be opportunities waiting for you. From my experience, Dutch and Nordic universities make applications relatively easy. Of course, this depends on the university’s prestige and the competitiveness of the program, but what truly matters is how well you do during your studies. The key is to genuinely be interested in what you’re studying, that’s all you need.