The Key to a New Life
Not every fresh start is chosen. Sometimes it is handed to you by circumstance — by loss, by change, by a door closing when you least expect it. What matters is what you do in that moment of uncertainty. Do you retreat to the familiar, or do you reach for something you never imagined for yourself? For Natalia Nesterov, that reach came in the form of a design contest, a phone call, and a college that believed in her before she believed in herself.
Natalia Nesterov flew to the United States on the wings of love. Not literally, of course — but love was the reason she left Kherson, Ukraine. The man she loved, her future husband, was waiting for her in America. But the dream faded when the relationship did not work out. With nothing keeping her there, Natalia was ready to pack her bags and go home — until something made her stay.
She discovered New Image College through an Internet forum. Visiting the college website at www.newimagecollege.com, she noticed a logo design contest and decided to try her luck. Three hours after submitting her entry, her phone rang. It was Pavel Ilyashenko, the director of New Image College himself. He had seen her work, liked what he saw, and called to tell her she had real talent — and that she should pursue design as a career. Natalia was not entirely sure, but decided to give it a shot.
She studied online, so she never met Pavel Ilyashenko or any of her instructors in person. Yet her success is clear and undeniable proof that online education can be both viable and highly effective. Before her spontaneous decision to enroll, Natalia had never considered a career in computer design, and her experience with computers was very limited. Nevertheless, she had always had a certain flair for creativity — she had worked with leather, crafting jewelry and other artistic pieces. As it turned out, graphic design awakened something in her. She found herself sitting in front of the computer for hours without noticing the time passing. She completed the full program in just nine months. By 2003, graduation day had arrived for Ms. Nesterov — now an aspiring designer.
Bogdan: Natalia, what were your feelings like?
Natalia: It was a fantastic feeling! For the first time since moving to the U.S., I was looking forward to the future instead of dwelling on the past. Studying truly changed my life — I found myself and left all my misfortunes behind. Today I am deeply grateful to New Image College not only for the education, but for a brand-new life. If Pavel had not convinced me to enroll back then, I would have left America long ago and returned home. But one cannot live in the past — we must move forward. It is only because of my studies and my newly discovered passion for design that I managed to emerge from a very difficult chapter of my life as a winner.
Bogdan: What were your first steps in the new profession? Was it hard to find a job?
Natalia: My first step was to put my portfolio website online at www.natadesign.com — a site my instructors at New Image College had helped me build during the program. By the way, the site is still up, though it hasn’t been updated since, so if you visit you’ll see it exactly as it was when I graduated.
After school I freelanced for a while, taking on different projects to build my experience. After that I went to work for SVET, a Russian-language newspaper in Chicago. They needed both a graphic designer and a web designer, so I was able to fill both roles. At the same time I was still taking on freelance orders for interactive presentations and web pages — and it never felt like too much. I loved my work so much that the more I learned, the more I wanted to apply my new knowledge. Later I moved to Rhode Island, where I won another logo design contest — this time for Newberry Spa.
Bogdan: What was the prize, if you don’t mind me asking?
Natalia: There was a cash prize and a gift. But that was not why I entered. For me it was an opportunity to prove something to myself and to others. And I won the greatest prize of all — independence, self-reliance, and the knowledge that you are a true professional. The moment I found out I had won, I called Pavel at New Image College — partly to share the news, and of course to say thank you.
Bogdan: Where do you work now?
Natalia: I am now a Project Manager at ARG Interactive at www.arginteractive.com. I am very satisfied with my life — I do what I love and I am paid well for it. What more could you ask for?
Bogdan: That is impressive career growth in just three years. How did you land that job?
Natalia: There is actually an interesting story behind that. When I sent them my resume and work samples, they called me in for an interview. But I arrived an hour late — not entirely my fault, but still not the best first impression. When I finally walked in, I was extremely nervous, my hands were trembling. I was sure no one would have waited that long. But they had. I was given several practical tests and passed them all with flying colors. That is exactly what New Image College had prepared me for — real tasks and real-world situations. No wonder I passed easily. I was initially hired to assist two other designers, but three months later, after a performance review, both of them were let go. I was the only designer remaining. Shortly after, I was promoted and began participating in business negotiations through to the close of deals. Now I am a Project Manager.
Bogdan: Congratulations! What is the secret of success for a designer? Any advice for someone considering a course at New Image College?
Natalia: For a designer — and I think for any profession — knowledge is the most important thing. You need up-to-date skills and practical experience. Everything is changing so fast these days, especially in computer-related fields. You have to stay current all the time. It is like being in school for life — always reading, always learning new techniques. Personally, that does not bother me at all. As I said, I truly love my work, and learning more in my free time is a pleasure, not a burden. The other ingredients of success are well known — eagerness and diligence.
Without any hesitation, I would absolutely recommend New Image College. It is a wonderful way to get trained in the design field — effective, affordable, and fast. I studied entirely online and never once met my teachers in person, yet they were so supportive that they feel like family to me now.
I also want to say something directly to women: seek independence. Do not rely on others for everything — be self-sufficient. You can do it on your own. Just believe in yourself. Regardless of your age, education can help you and can change your life. Imagine the world of possibilities that opens up when you invest in yourself. Look for happiness, look for your true self. I did it — and so can you.
The above is a transcript of my phone conversation with Natalia in Boston. If you would like to speak with her yourself, New Image College provides contact information for its graduates — with their permission, of course — to anyone seriously considering enrollment. Come to an open house and see the college for yourself. To find out when the next open house is being held, visit www.newimagecollege.com or call 1-866-819-2433. Don’t forget to read other student testimonials on the website.
— Bogdan Fadeev
