By Emil Rustamli
I’m Emil, 21, from Azerbaijan. And surprisingly, in the past two decades of my life, I’ve somehow managed to face political persecution, worry for my family’s safety and future, and achieve a lifestyle that, just four years ago, I couldn’t have even deemed feasible. Today, I’ll try to convince you that if you work hard toward your goals, you may soon find yourself in a position you didn’t even know existed. So, grab your coffee and let me tell you the story of my life…
My Father
My father was born and raised in a remote mountainous village with fewer than 50 families. To attend the nearest school, he had to hike through several villages, often trudging through mud or snow, for nearly an hour each day. At that time, the village didn’t have a high school, so at 17, my father left his village to pursue his education at a boarding school in the capital city. He eventually joined medical school and became a doctor. However, at a young age, he also got involved in politics—a decision that would profoundly shape the future of our entire family.
Political Persecution
My life’s political troubles began when I was just a month old. I was a newborn, and Azerbaijan was going through a turbulent political period marked by one of the most historically significant presidential elections. Before the elections, my dad was sent to the army, with the main motive being to disturb his political activity. As a result, I grew up without him until I was 2 years old. I don’t remember those days, but my mom narrates that when my dad would visit home for five days every six months, I would cry for four of them, not knowing who this stranger was trying to hug me. By the fifth day, I’d finally get used to him—only for him to leave that night.
But if I go back to the earliest memories I have, I was around 5 years old, and my dad would take me along on all of his political trips. It wasn’t your typical father-son activity, and maybe at the time, it wasn’t the most exciting thing to sit through a bunch of old men discussing the economy and politics or giving speeches to the public. Yet, it taught me public speaking, leadership, and the importance of taking responsibility for something bigger than ourselves. These skills and values became so ingrained in me that they feel as natural as breathing: I don’t have to think about them unless someone points them out (and yes, I know you’re manually breathing now, but don’t worry—you’ll go back to auto mode soon enough).
School
To take a break from politics, let me tell you about my school years. When I was in 4th grade, at the age of 10, I was given a random opportunity to participate in Math Olympiads. I performed quite well in my first competition, marking the start of an 8-year journey in math competitions. I remember how each year I prepared intensely for the Olympiads, and despite my usual high—sometimes overconfidence, I would always feel the nerves as I walked into the exam room. That rush of adrenaline from competing against some of the smartest people I knew became a defining part of my life. Even now, I miss that fierce competition and find myself constantly seeking it in my adult life.
But amidst this period of academic focus, something completely unforeseen happened—my father was fired from his job at a public hospital because of his political activity. Our family was suddenly in crisis mode, and our daily conversations revolved around how we were going to make ends meet. It was during this time that I began learning German and teaching it to my family, preparing for the possibility of moving to Germany. The hope was that if we had to leave, my dad could start working there as soon as possible, allowing us to rebuild our lives.
This was also the first time I started to seriously think about studying abroad, realizing that my options at home would always be limited due to politics. But studying abroad felt like a distant dream—my family’s annual income at the time was probably just enough to cover the cost of a flight to the U.S., let alone any other expenses.
Fortunately, my father was able to secure a job at a private hospital, and suddenly, we were making just enough for my parents to support my education abroad to a modest degree, given that I would work somewhere to cover my living costs. I continued learning German, aiming to study in Germany since tuition there is free.
However, I later learned that Germany requires students to attend a foundation school before starting a bachelor’s degree, and you’re not allowed to work during that foundation year. Given our financial situation, this would make studying in Germany impossible.
Path to Education Abroad
While searching for ways to cover the costs of a foundation year, I came across the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), a scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with an acceptance rate of less than 2%. This program allows students to spend a year in a U.S. high school, and I realized that winning this scholarship could be a way to skip the foundation year and pursue my education goals. In my senior year of high school, I was fortunate to be selected as a FLEX scholar. That same year, I had the honor of winning the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the math category in the national round to later represent Azerbaijan in the U.S. for global competition. Additionally, I was accepted into Yale’s summer program, the Yale Young Global Scholars Program (YYGS).
It was at YYGS that I learned about the opportunities for full scholarships at top U.S. universities. Given my recent experiences, I decided to shift my focus from Germany to pursuing education in the U.S. After a year-long admissions process, I enrolled at Minerva University because of its emphasis on global education. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of studying in seven different countries and gaining work experience in places like South Korea, Taiwan, India, Argentina, the UK, and the U.S.
Take-home Notes
Now that you’ve spent a few minutes reading about my life, let me tell you why I shared all of this with you. This blog wouldn’t exist if a series of seemingly unrelated events hadn’t aligned in ways I couldn’t have predicted. If my dad hadn’t moved to the capital or lost his job, I might never have thought about studying abroad. If I hadn’t attended Yale’s Summer Program, I wouldn’t have known about scholarships at U.S. schools. The truth is, life rarely follows a straight path, and unexpected twists often lead to the most significant outcomes. As Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Before I end, below I try to collect some take-home notes:
- Embrace Resilience: Life can throw unexpected challenges your way, but resilience and adaptability are key to overcoming them. No matter how uncertain the future may seem, staying committed to your goals can help you navigate through tough times.
- Learn, Learn, Learn: Education is a transformative force. It not only opens doors to new opportunities but also provides a pathway to overcome systemic barriers, whether those are political, economic, or social.
- Be Ready for Change: Life’s path is rarely linear, and the ability to pivot when circumstances change can make all the difference. Whether it’s shifting your educational goals or adapting to new environments, being flexible and open to change is a critical skill.
- Do What You Enjoy: As Naval Ravikant wisely said, “Do what feels like play to you and looks like work to others, and you’ll be very successful.” Do the things that feel right, and they will likely lead to a life that you enjoy.
Hope it helps, kids. Cheers
