🇪🇺 TEEN European Digital Community: Oak Tree from Lubny, Ukraine

Oak Tree

I am a student, volunteer and activist from Ukraine. For over four years, I have been volunteering with a charitable foundation, supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, helping elderly people, and assisting a local animal shelter. As a member of two youth councils at local and regional levels, I work to amplify young people’s voices and connect them with local authorities. I also participate in research on youth engagement and inter-council cooperation through an NGO. Alongside activism, I work as a tutor teaching English and Mathematics. My hobbies include chess, running, cooking, physics, and learning languages. I am also in love with theatre and photography — they are what make me truly myself. Acting is my favourite, as it has an influence not only on me but on the people around me as well. I am an open-minded person, so I am always happy to meet someone new ♡

The soil / the need

Honestly, I wasn’t looking for anything specific at that moment, it happened completely by chance. A group of friends and I were walking around after some event, with no real plan, and our accompanying suggested spending the evening at the theatre. We just went along with it.
And it hit me like nothing I’d ever experienced before. The emotions the actors were expressing on stage, I had never felt anything like that. I was literally trembling. Something in that performance cracked me open and I suddenly understood, in a very physical way, what the beauty of a live show actually means. I absorbed every single emotion throughout the whole performance. By the end, I was simply in love with it.
I wasn’t searching for anything. It started as basic curiosity, almost accidental. But that one evening left a spark in me that never really went out. It grew into something much bigger, an inspiration and honestly, a big part of how I live and see the world today.

The first seed

A friend.

Tell us about that first spark

As I said before, the most iconic moment for me was my first encounter with theatre and it was gorgeous. However, I would like to add the moment it truly became an integral part of me up to this day. It was my friend’s invitation to the theatre club that changed everything. And here is how it went. I started declaiming poems and acting at school, and eventually even in front of a live audience at the local cultural centre. Something shifted inside me during those performances, I felt all the emotions run through my mind and blood, as if the stage was the one place where I could express everything I had kept within. Since that time, I have regularly taken part in such activities, and it doesn’t matter whether I am the main character carrying the whole story or simply a visitor sitting in the crowd. I enjoy every single second of the performance, breathing in that unique atmosphere that only theatre can create.

Roots (people & experiences that shaped your path)

For me, I can divide the most important things into three main pieces — emotions, experiences, and connections. I deeply love the feelings I get during a show, whether I am sitting in the audience or the one actually making the performance happen on stage. After each one, somehow I find myself with more motivation to move forward, make a difference and simply be who I am.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that every time I step into that world, I improve my speaking skills, my confidence, and the way I communicate with others. Nothing else can truly replace that, because theatre gives you a raw and honest sense of people — their energy, their reactions, their vulnerability. And that is what I love the most, the true spirit of people pouring through their emotions in real time.
Many people come to performances carrying something personal with them, and there is a quiet joy in looking around and realising you are surrounded by those who feel the same way you do. It is a special pleasure to meet someone who shares the same passion, and even more so when that connection doesn’t end after the curtain falls, but continues long after.

The trunk (what keeps you in theatre)

The biggest influence has been my friends from the theatre club. They always invite me, we train together and spend quality time creating new memories. That group of people is what keeps bringing me back every time.
I can honestly say that in those moments I am truly happy. It is not only about the performances, but also about everything around them — the laughter, the excitement before going on stage, and the feeling you carry with you long after it is over. All of it together feels like something special that I do not want to lose.
Theatre helps me grow and become more of the person I want to be. It gives me a place where I can show my true self, and that is something difficult to find anywhere else.

Branches (future / desire)

For me, theatre is a hobby, a place where I can rest and freely express my emotions. It will definitely remain a part of my life in the future, and I have no doubts about that. The reason is simple — theatre gives me inspiration like nothing else does. Whatever path I end up choosing, whether it is engineering, law, or something completely different, I will never let it go. It has become too much of who I am to simply walk away from it.
Many of my friends actually tell me I am a natural actor, which is always kind to hear, but I am still figuring out the direction I want to take in life. What I do know is that theatre will be there regardless of what I choose.
In the coming years, I hope it continues to be the fuel that pushes me forward. But beyond that, I also hope to motivate the people around me to find something they love outside of work and daily routine.

Are you currently involved in cultural activities?

Yes, sometimes

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Why?

Maybe it is a common choice, but if I were a tree, I would definitely be an oak. An oak witnesses centuries of human life. It stands through storms, harsh winters and long dry summers, yet it remains. Its trunk is strong and breaking it is nearly impossible. That kind of quiet endurance is something I deeply admire and personally strive for.
What I love most is that an oak is never closed off. It spreads its branches wide, offering shade and shelter, and becomes a home for so many living things. It does not exist just for itself. Birds nest in it, animals rest beneath it and people sit under it to think. I want to be that kind of person too, someone whose presence gives others a place to feel safe and welcome.
For me, choosing the oak also comes from a personal desire. One day I want to look back at my life and genuinely say to myself, well done. I want to be proud of what I have built and who I have become. But just as importantly, I do not want to go through life being useful only to myself. I want to give others a chance, a little space to grow, the same way an oak gives space to everything around it.

Contact

Email: bistrovas51@gmail.com

Instagram: @anatoliy_bystrov