“Since the war in Ukraine began, I believed that the most important first step was to speak out and make people aware. I wanted to be the one to start that conversation and take the first step toward a solution,” says Rustam Seyidov, reflecting on how global events shaped his determination to tell stories that matter.
Writing has been a part of Rustam’s life since childhood. From school essays to personal diaries, he found early on that putting his thoughts into words was the easiest way to share his experiences. “You could say that there is not much in the life of a 10-year-old; however, I found writing as the easiest way to share thoughts, and I had a lot of them,” he laughs.
The first time in Kaunas felt like a movie scene
His first impressions of Lithuania still remain vivid. The fresh air at Vilnius Airport, the greenery of Kaunas, and the scale of the KTU campus are still in his mind. “It felt like I was in some sort of movie scene,” he recalls.
Soon after, Rustam began experiencing everyday life in a dormitory, where meeting people from around the world became part of his routine. “In the morning you can have breakfast with a person from the same city as you and in the evening you go out with someone who is from another coast of the Atlantic Ocean,” he says.
Learning to tell stories that matter
Alongside life outside the classroom, Rustam is gradually shaping his professional identity. For him, studying New Media Language is not just about acquiring skills, but about understanding how stories are told and why they matter. “I wanted my future job to be something I enjoy doing the most,” he says, explaining why choosing a field connected to writing felt like a natural step.
Although he is only in his second year, Rustam already knows that he wants to work in media as a journalist, with a clear preference for written content. Photography remains a hobby for now, but he hopes to explore photojournalism in the future.
An important part of his journey at KTU is participation in the GIFTed Talent Academy, which is designed for highly motivated students who aim to unlock their potential and continuously improve. Rustam joined the programme after discovering the opportunity later than most of his gifted peers and successfully passing the selection process. For him, GIFTed is not only about scholarships or additional activities, but also about personal growth and learning to take initiative.
One of the most valuable lessons he has learned came from working with others. “I learned that sometimes you have to work in a team and not always this team is your friends who you know well,” he reflects. Learning to collaborate with different people, he adds, is challenging but essential for both professional and personal development.
Reflecting on language and communication as a concept, Rustam believes change is inevitable and necessary. “Language is like a living forest – trees and plants grow, some die, and new ones emerge. Just look at how different it was 50 years ago, and imagine how it will change in the next 50,” he explains. For Rustam, this dynamic environment is exactly where he wants to be – telling stories, raising awareness, and taking that first step toward change.
Want your studies to lead to real change? Applications for Autumn 2026 at KTU are open. Find your programme.
