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Kseniya Belik

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: “Aspire.” That word sums up Kseniya Belik’s life as a Young Scholar. Kseniya said a manual on how to be a successful Young Scholar really only needs to contain that six-letter, two-syllable word. “The rest would be entirely in the hands of the Young Scholar, who, through challenges, success, perseverance and education, would scribble in their own manual as they go.” The world of science, mathematics, linguistics and exploration opened up to Kseniya through the many programs she participated in.

Profile: Kseniya lists two historic hometowns on her Foundation application. Her place of birth and where she lived until she was nine is Vitebsk in Belarus (founded in the year 947). Her second hometown, Clifton in Northern Virginia, was an important area both in colonial days and during the Civil War. Kseniya has a self-proclaimed love of learning, something that has been nurtured from the beginning by her mother. The process of learning is something intrinsically meaningful to this young lady, who asks: “What good is academic accomplishment unless it is felt in the heart as well as in the mind?” Kseniya, whose name loosely translates in English to mean “hospitable”, is a near straight A student at Centreville High School in the suburban Washington, DC area.

Inspiration: Shortly after arriving in “the States,” and struggling to master and understand the new culture, a teacher explained the importance of respecting yourself and being comfortable within your own skin. “Her prime lesson of knowing and accepting oneself has given me the confidence to act on my intuition and assuredly pursue interests that are in synch with what is important to me.”

Aspiration: Kseniya hopes her love of languages will translate into a career in international relations either in government or in the business world. She loves the art of communicating and especially helping to bridge the gap when someone needs help. She hopes her language skills will help benefit people.

Making a Difference: In addition to several summer programs working with the homeless, Kseniya helps tutor students at her high school.

Accolades: She was named an AP Scholar with Honor by the College Board and is a member of the Centreville High School’s National Honor Society, German Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society.

Interesting fact: There are many famous tennis players who grew up in Belarus, but Kseniya’s not one of them. She tried her best to make the school tennis team in Virginia, but decided she’d be better off in the classroom when while practicing her serve she accidentally hit her coach smack dab in the forehead.
 

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