“Don’t lose faith in yourself”: an interview with 15-year-old Maksym

Fifteen-year-old Maksym, a ninth-grade student from Kyiv, has found his true passion in scientific research. A special place in his life belongs to the Kyiv Junior Academy of Sciences (MAN), where he is an active participant.

“I can’t imagine my life without MAN — it’s an incredible experience and an amazing community. I found my people here,” he says enthusiastically.

Discovering His Calling

Last summer, Maksym began working on his own research project — exploring how the role of media has transformed during wartime. His project involved interviewing journalists and conducting a sociological survey among both Ukrainians and foreigners.

“In March, I defended my paper and won second place at the city level. I was one point short of first place — but next year I’m going for the win. I plan to write two research papers to increase my chances of reaching the national stage,” he shares.

Maksym’s interest in journalism isn’t coincidental — he was born into a family of journalists and has felt a connection to the profession since childhood.

“In the future, I’d like to connect my life with journalism, but I don’t want to limit myself to something too narrow. We live in a time when there are more people and fewer professions — because of artificial intelligence,” he reflects.

Living Through War and Growing Stronger

Despite his academic focus, Maksym remains deeply aware of the realities of war. The events of recent years have profoundly shaped his worldview.

“I think since the full-scale invasion began, we’ve all changed — and we’ll never be the same as before,” he says.

He admits that he recognizes the importance of mental health support but hasn’t yet found the strength to reach out for it.

“Maybe this sounds irresponsible, but I want to work on my mental health when it’s all over. I can’t imagine going through therapy while living every day with the fear of losing someone close. It feels like trying to fix a vase knowing it could be shattered again,” Maksym explains.

Some of his most difficult moments were witnessing his friends’ pain.

“My friend’s father was killed at the front. It’s a kind of hopelessness you can’t describe… I realized that sometimes silence means more than words. What matters is simply being there,” he says quietly.

Finding Support and Inspiration

Maksym learned about the “How to Support Yourself in Today’s Reality” event by Dobrodiy Club during a school lesson — and immediately decided to join.

“Self-support skills are essential right now. That event was something everyone needed. What I liked most was when the singer Lida Lee came to visit us. She was very sincere — she said things that really mattered to all of us. I think everyone enjoyed it deeply,” he recalls.

A Message to His Peers

In closing, Maksym shares a heartfelt message for other teenagers living through these difficult times:

“In this hard reality, it’s so important to remind yourself that you’re not alone. Life goes on, no matter what. One day, what hurts most today will become yesterday. Time helps us grow stronger despite the pain. Don’t lose faith in yourself — or in tomorrow.”