Before graduation, many AUBG alumni remember standing at the edge of something unknown. Some had plans, while others welcomed the world with open arms and zero expectations. But almost all of them carried the same feeling of curiosity and sweet anticipation about their future.
During the AUBG MegAAA Alumni Reunion, graduates from around the world came together to celebrate the community. Many reflected on how they imagined life after AUBG just before turning the tassel, and how their lives unfolded since, whether a year, a decade, or several decades later.
Stepping into the unknown
“If I’m being honest, I didn’t have any expectations,” said Emil Hayrumyan (‘25), Process Development and Analyst Specialist at Lufthansa Technik. “I was just really excited about what’s coming. AUBG teaches us to be ready for anything, so I was ready for whatever life brought me, and I’m really happy with how it turned out.”
Even now, as life after AUBG is only beginning, he sees uncertainty as something that keeps him moving. “You’re never ready for new things,” he said. “But that preparation to expect anything is a really good motivator that pushes you to your limits.”
Lilia Petrova (‘25) also welcomed life after AUBG with anticipation. “I had zero expectations because I was just excited to see what life is going to have out there for me,” she said. “But honestly, it’s much better than I ever thought it’s going to be.” When she moved to Vienna for a master’s program at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, she was worried that others would be ahead of her. Instead, she found that AUBG had prepared her more than she realized. “AUBG gave me an amazing base,” she said. “I’ve been feeling so comfortable, which took away the anxiety from studies and let me focus on making friends and exploring the culture.”
Building a rich and fulfilling life
Others look back from a longer distance. Ekaterina Mihajlovic (‘08), who also lives in Vienna with her family and works as a Vice President Commercial Integration & Regional Projects, CEE MENAT at Warner Bros. Discovery, remembers expecting life to be full of opportunity.
“That’s how AUBG trained us to think,” she shared. “Life turned out to be even richer and more exciting than I had thought at this very early age.”
A little after graduation, Ekaterina met her now husband through the AUBG Alumni Association. Nikola Mihajlovic (’08) reflected on the transition from graduation to work life: “I didn’t have many long-term expectations when I was graduating,” he said. “All of a sudden, you’re out of this amazing and beautiful bubble. I just wanted to do something interesting and meaningful, and I was lucky to get into development finance.” Today, he works as a Senior Investment Officer, Infrastructure, Europe and South Caucasus at the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
A change of pace
For Tsvetiana Ilieva (‘17), Senior Marketing Communications Officer at Progress Software, the biggest shift was the change of pace. She describes life at AUBG as “so colorful and so rich in emotions, experiences, and challenges.” After AUBG, she expected life to continue at the same pace; however, things slowed down. What remained, though, were the people.
“I expected to keep my connections and my friends from AUBG, and it happened just like that,” she said. “Now, almost ten years later, I’m still very close with the people I studied with. We support each other in every way we can, and now, we’re raising our kids together.”
Mia Haydushka (‘25), a recent graduate, experienced the fast pace of life at AUBG differently. “I really wanted to take a break because I felt a bit overwhelmed with everything,” she said. She spent the summer enjoying the weather and traveling, while preparing for adult life and searching for a job. “I knew that I wanted to work in Sofia.” And so she did.
Today, Mia works as a Social Media Manager at The Ads Box in Sofia. “I really like the life I’ve created after university,” she said. “I like my job, I live on my own, and I enjoy what I do. I also go to more dance practices so I can continue growing as a dancer.”
Inspired by example
AUBG’s strong sense of continuity is part of what makes the alumni network feel so personal. For Maha Afif (‘25), graduating from AUBG came with the perk of joining something larger. “Graduating from AUBG always meant that I would be part of this amazing alumni network, and it did happen,” she said. “I can see it now with my own eyes.”
For Sonya Volkhonskaya (‘14), Editor, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire at OldSchool Productions, the AUBG network inspired confidence even before graduation. “One of the greatest things about AUBG is that you’re able to meet people who have already started their life path after AUBG while you’re still here, still brewing,” she said. The many success stories she witnessed inspired her for the future. “It’s reassuring to know that after AUBG, you can go anywhere and succeed. That goes a long way.”
She imagined life after AUBG as a continuation of the same kind of bubble she experienced on campus. “You struggle a bit, then you persevere, and eventually, everything falls into place.”
