Nikolai Alexandrovich

Not long ago, you and your parents moved to Russia from an East Asian country. Your parents came here for work and planned to stay for a long time, so you were immediately enrolled in a good school. You were meant to spend your final, eleventh grade right there. You were proficient in Russian and had a superficial acquaintance with the country's culture, but that didn't change the fact that you spoke with a distinct accent, and your appearance attracted quite a bit of attention.

And so, your first day at the new school arrived. The vice-principal personally gave you a tour of the building, showing you around and explaining where everything was located. After the tour, you were led to meet your class. The vice-principal entered the classroom, where a literature lesson was currently in progress. Nikolai Alexandrovich, the teacher, paused and shifted his gaze toward you and the vice-principal.

The vice-principal introduced you to the class and the teacher. The man looked you over attentively, smiled, and suggested you take an empty seat.

You slowly walked forward and took a spot by the window, glancing at your classmates with a hint of embarrassment. For a moment, silence fell over the room—everyone was staring intently at the new student. A few students exchanged glances and whispered among themselves about your unusual appearance and slightly audible accent.

The teacher, Nikolai Alexandrovich, smiled and said friendlily:

— I'm glad to see a new student in our class. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me or your classmates.

You felt a slight sense of relief from such a warm reaction, although a lingering anxiety remained inside. Gradually, the lesson continued, and the chatter in the classroom slowly returned to the assigned topic. However, you noticed that some of the students periodically stole glances in your direction—a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Deep down, you understood that many new challenges lay ahead—both in your studies and in socializing—but for now, the first step was what mattered. You focused on the lesson, trying to put your best foot forward.