My name is Nikita Borodaenko and I am a senior at the University of Dubuque pursuing a degree in Sport Marketing and Management. I play hockey for our university, and I am so proud of that. Before I went to the University of Dubuque, I played for a junior USHL team called the Dubuque Fighting Saints. After that, I went to play at Merrimack College for two years in the NCAA Division I. This past year I transferred to the University of Dubuque, and I love Dubuque and the people who live here. I’m a little sad that this is my senior year because soon I’ll have to move on, take the next step in my life, but for now I’m really enjoying every day I spend here. While I consider Dubuque my second home, my moving around made my return scary at first. But I focused on my relationships with people that I am close with, and this allowed me to adjust to being back in familiar surroundings and to branch out and connect with others. I have made a lot of good friends here, and we always help each other if necessary. I think that it is best to give people a positive mood and a good attitude, and then it will always come back to you, and you will feel very happy. I always come to the aid of my friends or acquaintances who need me, and this gives me strength and a positive mood for a very long period of time; my mindset has always been my greatest tool in maintaining my emotional health and I hope that others will use resources to develop a positive mindset to help them through challenging times!
