Natalia Masalkova: "I went to university to play volleyball"

Natalya Masalkova

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His research activities at the department, participation in the innovative student community Ventum Nova, experience in volleyball, and networking skills all highlight his versatility. Participation in research projects and an active role in student life allow him to develop leadership skills and expand his professional horizons.

He is pursuing a Master's degree in Radio Engineering at MPEI. In his free time, he enjoys machine learning and web development, especially front-end development. His hobby is attending IT conferences, where he meets professionals and like-minded people in the field of technology. This proactive approach allows him to expand his knowledge and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the IT industry.

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I studied at the Olympic reserve school and played volleyball, which has always been my passion. All my life, I dreamed of playing with a ball and developing my athletic skills. However, recently my interests began to change.

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School and the Straight-A Student Syndrome

Studies were never a priority for me, although I achieved good results. Mathematics always piqued my interest, and so my parents recommended that I enroll in a technical university. They believed that graduates of technical specialties have an easier time finding a job after completing their studies.

At school, I didn't get along with physics due to an unfortunate choice of teachers. However, driven by my desire to succeed academically, I decided to take matters into my own hands. In 11th grade, I got into an argument with a teacher, declaring that I would take the Unified State Exam in physics. I set a condition: if I achieved the required score, he would give me a good grade, and I could earn a gold medal. This challenge motivated me, and I delved deeper into physics, eventually not only passing the exam but also developing a love for the subject. For my own safety, I applied to the university for targeted training. My choice of major was almost random. While I was riding the subway, the admissions office called and asked, "Natalya, what university and major are you choosing?" The first thing that came to mind was MPEI, as it was closest to home. I remembered the brochure with the applications and answered, "Radio Engineering." Thus ended the call that would later shape my life's path.

I chose radio engineering, although I came to university to play volleyball. Perhaps I was hit in the head by balls too often at school, which influenced my choice. Despite this, radio engineering opens up many opportunities for development and self-realization, and volleyball remains my passion.

Master programming and neural networks for your diploma

At university, I got excellent grades, was actively involved in volleyball on the student team, received an increased scholarship, and spent time with friends—in general, I enjoyed student life. However, I didn't think about the future or make long-term plans. As Scarlett O'Hara said, "I'll think about it tomorrow."

An interesting observation. Next to my dacha are brick buildings built by special forces units. Before entering university, I didn't pay attention to their inscriptions. However, after enrolling, I realized that the buildings were marked with the abbreviations "MPEI" and "RTF," which correspond to the name of my university and department. This is a clear example of neurolinguistic programming in action.

That very building. Photo: Natalia Masalkova's personal archive.

In your final year of undergraduate study, you need to choose a supervisor and a topic for your thesis. I chose the head of the department as my supervisor and became a member of the student scientific society Ventum Nova. As part of my thesis project, participants created mini-startups, which provided a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practice and develop entrepreneurial skills.

In my podcast @myobrecheny, I share my experience choosing a supervisor. We discuss important aspects of this process, sometimes with humor, but always sincerely. Listen to our conversation, you will receive useful tips and recommendations to help you make the right choice in your academic career.

I received a project related to neural networks. The problem was that programming was not taught at the university. As a result, I had to master programming languages, study the basics of neural networks and write a thesis on this topic in just a few months.

I wrote my thesis roughly according to this principle. Still from the cartoon "Madagascar 2"

I began my development career by solving small problems as part of departmental projects. After that, I enrolled in a master's program to deepen my knowledge and skills in programming. This also gave me the opportunity to continue playing volleyball, which is my passion. My experience in the department and in graduate school was an important step in developing a career in development.

At my department, I was offered to participate in research work for a small private company. This is how I began studying clustering, segmentation, and trajectory processing algorithms. At the same time, I was actively involved in volleyball, playing on three teams, which significantly expanded my teamwork skills and physical fitness. This period was intense: I left almost no time for rest and actively participated in social events.

The results were unexpected: I faced stress, suffered a knee injury, and experienced burnout. Due to the injury, I had to leave volleyball, which I had been associated with for 15 years. That summer, I sank into depression, spending days at home and overeating. I tried to fill the inner emptiness with reading books and watching anime, but it did not help, and I continued to feel mentally exhausted. Don't repeat my mistakes: it is important to rest regularly and take care of your mental health.

I wasn't very productive at work, but I tried to come in regularly. And it turned out to be worth it: graduate students from the department offered me an interesting challenge. They recommended learning front-end languages and technologies so I could share my knowledge. This new goal helped me out of my depression and, I hope, brought me closer to my desired career in the IT industry. Learning front-end programming has become an important step in my professional development.

Natalia Masalkova: "I went to university to play volleyball"

Contents:

Natalya Masalkova

School and the Straight-A Student Syndrome

Master programming and neural networks for your diploma