If You Could Pursue Any Occupation – Creative Writing Essay
In my teenage years, on political reasons I refused to become a member of Komsomol (Communist Union of Youth), which by that time was obligatory. The school authorities were enraged by this fact and for quite a while I was a kind of outcast.
This was my first lesson in democracy – though “ex adverso”, if I may put it so. I realized the importance of a truly free, democratic society, where people can openly express their views unfraid of any punishment. Already then I started thinking of drastic changes and my ability to impact them. It was the first time I thought of a polititian as a person having maximum leverage to bring about changes.
Time went by, and I found new examples and proofs that despite democratic changes, there was something deeply unhealthy with our governmental structures. For instance, regulating all the formalities concerning the newly built Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with Moscow and federal officials I was nearly swept away by a bureaucratic avalanche, not to mention bribery, intrigues and absurd requirements of truly Kafkian nature.
All in all, being in politics I would focus on building and preserving a civil society, fighting corruption and cutting red tape (certainly in reasonable limits) to facilitate the development of the Russian economy. Perhaps I am an idealist, but I do believe it is possible to find an adequate, healthy way of interaction between business and governmental structures, which will exclude the slightest possibilities of corruption or reduce them to minimum. My research at the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics provided some theoretical grounding for my convictions. I am glad that at my present position I can also contribute to Russia’s soonest political and economic integration; still I know that much more should (and could) be done.
In the 90-s, one of the most turbulent Russian decades, this acute feeling of responsibly for my country brought me to cooperation with one democratic political party. Unfortunately, the change of political climate coupled with my tight schedule made me leave this activity; never-the-less I did not completely give up an idea to go to politics in the distant future – perhaps, when my business comes to the stage when I can invest less time and effort into it.
I think, my ability to find common ground with people from most disparate social layers – from scholars to sportsmen, from top-managers to maintenance worker – would help me in my political career. The same refers to my presenting abilities, honed during shareholders’ meetings and international trade shows when I worked at JSC “Manezhnaya Ploshchad” and polished during my lectures before hundreds of students at the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics. By the way, I am sure that the person able to handle students’ attention will cope with audiences of any size.
All in all, I do not want to be a dreamer, but I think this turn of my career quite possible. Everything is up to me.