Trying Everything as a Kid

My name is Aruzhan Khafiz, I’m 18 years old, and I live in Astana. Since childhood, my parents encouraged me to try many different activities. I spent 10 years doing vocals, learned piano, danced, tried gymnastics, sports, and many other hobbies. I was always curious and wanted to explore everything around me.Even when I was very young, I used to tell people that I would become a singer, actress, model, or TV host. At that time, I simply didn’t know the word “journalist” yet.

How Journalism Entered My Life

I first entered the world of media when I was nine years old. I studied at a diplomacy school, and one day I was asked to moderate a meeting with an International Ambassador. After that event, my teacher, Makhabbat Yessen, suggested creating my own interview project called “One on One with Aruzhan Khafiz.”That project became the beginning of everything. I started interviewing bloggers, actors, entrepreneurs, and public figures from Kazakhstan. Through this experience, I realized that I genuinely loved talking to people and hearing their stories.Later, my YouTube project helped me get noticed by the Khabar TV channel, where I worked on television projects. I also became Kazakhstan’s ambassador at Junior Eurovision in 2018 and 2019, representing the country in Minsk and Poland.

Working With UNESCO and International Projects

As I got older, I became involved in larger international projects. I worked on the Aisholpan podcast together with UNESCO and the European Union, where we interviewed inspiring girls and women about their journeys and achievements.These experiences taught me that journalism is much more than simply asking questions. It connects people, cultures, ideas, and important social topics. It also taught me how important communication and empathy are.

Learning Discipline Through School and Media

Even though I spent a lot of time on projects and filming, education was always a priority in my family. My mom often made me bring textbooks and notebooks with me during trips and shoots.When I entered NIS and started the IB program, balancing everything became much harder. There were moments when I had to reduce projects and focus more on studying.Academics were never easy for me, especially math and science subjects. I had to work very hard to achieve my SAT score of 1510 and my IELTS band score of 8.0. I prepared for exams almost every day for more than a year.At the same time, media taught me discipline. Long filming days, sleepless nights, and constant deadlines helped me become more organized and resilient.

The Activities That Helped My Application

A huge part of my application came from extracurricular activities. Some of the most important experiences for me were becoming a finalist of the national “Urker” journalism award, working with UNESCO projects, participating in youth forums, environmental initiatives, and volunteering.I wanted universities to see that I care not only about media, but also about education, social issues, and creating positive change.

Understanding What I Want to Do in the Future

Through journalism and media, I slowly understood what I want to study in university and what kind of future I want for myself.I plan to study Interactive Media Arts because I’m interested in storytelling, digital media, film production, music, and creative technologies. I want to create projects that inspire people and help others feel heard.For me, media is not only journalism anymore — it is a way to connect art, technology, communication, and social impact.

Why I Never Focused on Just One Thing

People often ask me how I managed to balance so many interests at once. But honestly, trying different things is what gives me energy.If I only focused on one thing, I would probably get bored very quickly. I enjoy combining creativity, communication, academics, and new experiences together.I think this is also why media feels so natural to me — it includes so many different parts of life.

The Hardest Part of Applying Abroad

I started preparing for university applications in 10th grade. The process itself was very emotional and stressful.Surprisingly, the hardest part for me wasn’t collecting activities or documents — it was writing essays. American universities want students to deeply explain who they are, and I found that difficult because I’m more used to interviewing other people than talking about myself.I rewrote my essays many times before finally turning one of them into a fairytale-style story.

Receiving Multiple University Offers

One of the happiest moments for me was receiving offers from top Asian universities, including NYU Shanghai, HKUST, CUHK Shenzhen, and PolyU. After years of studying, preparing for exams, building projects, and writing essays, it finally felt like all the hard work paid off.Each university saw something different in me, but I think what helped the most was staying true to my personality, consistency, and genuine passion for media and communication — not trying to look like a “perfect” applicant.

What I Would Tell Other Students

One thing I learned during this journey is that there is no perfect applicant.Someone will always have a higher GPA, better test scores, or different achievements. But universities are looking for real people with real stories, passions, and direction.My biggest advice is to try new things, believe in yourself, and not be afraid of failure. At the same time, don’t forget about your health, rest, friends, and family — because applications eventually end, but your well-being stays with you forever.