🇪🇺 TEEN European Digital Community: Plane Tree from Shabo, Ukraine

Plane Tree

My name is Masha, and I am a high school student from Ukraine who is passionate about personal development, leadership, and creativity. Since childhood, I have loved to draw, even though I did not always have all the necessary resources to do so. Art has always brought me joy and inspiration. I was also interested in theater and participated in small performances, which helped me develop self-confidence, communication skills, and self-expression. These creative experiences became an important part of my personal development.

When I first applied to participate in a large international program, I was not accepted. At first, I was disappointed, but then I realized that this was only the beginning of my journey. Instead of giving up, I continued to write, improve my skills, and support others. I helped my sister with her projects and participated in creative camps, where I had the opportunity to work with talented people and learn from professionals. These experiences taught me teamwork, responsibility, and the importance of striving to achieve ambitious goals.

Over the years, I have participated in various programs and projects that have broadened my horizons. I particularly enjoy Europe and the international environment, where cooperation, creativity, and innovation are highly valued. Traveling and communicating with peers from different countries has made me more open-minded, confident, and flexible in achieving my goals.

Over the years, I have participated in various programs and projects that have broadened my horizons. I particularly enjoy Europe and the international environment, where cooperation, creativity, and innovation are highly valued. Traveling and communicating with peers from different countries has made me more open-minded, confident, and flexible in achieving my goals.

Learning languages is a key part of my development. I am actively improving my language skills because I know that effective communication is essential for leadership in an international context. My goal is to become a leader who brings people together, creates meaningful initiatives, and helps young people across Ukraine realize their potential. I want to create a program that brings together young people from different regions, gives them the opportunity to exchange ideas, develop creative and leadership skills, and gain international experience.

Although my biography is short, it reflects my journey and how persistently I strive to achieve my goals. I consider myself decisive, inquisitive, and persistent. I enjoy taking on new challenges, developing myself, and being creative. I am currently applying for various programs and projects to continue developing my leadership and creative skills, explore new opportunities, and make a positive impact. My journey is just beginning, and I am moving forward with confidence, ready for new challenges and creative discoveries.

The soil / the need

I first became truly involved with theatre during a difficult period in my life. Theatre and art culture is not well developed in our community, but this only made my interest in it even stronger. My acquaintance with theatre began during a creative camp, where we worked together to create a theatrical space. This experience was a revelation for me and captivated me deeply.

At that moment, I lacked inner strength and a sense of independence. I did not know how to control my emotions and did not understand my own states, as they were constantly changing. At the same time, I was in an emotionally difficult state due to a large amount of responsibility: I was trying to earn money for my family, taking courses, studying on my own, and helping my mother. All of this was exhausting me.

The theatre became my anchor. Through it, I was able to feel better about myself, understand my true emotions, and learn to work with my inner states. I realised how deep and multifaceted this art form is, because theatre combines emotions, movement, words, the body, and teamwork. In theatre, everyone finds their role — both on stage and within themselves.

This experience captivated me so much that I began not only to participate in theatrical processes, but also to initiate my own projects. I came up with an idea for a theatre project, assembled a team, and we planned to conduct acting workshops and create a performance. Unfortunately, our project did not receive grant support, and the idea remained unrealised. However, I did not lose faith.

That is why I want to participate in this programme — to practise, gain experience, develop my skills, and feel more deeply connected to theatre. I believe that by gaining this knowledge and experience, I will not only grow as a person and a creative individual, but also be able to share it with others.

The first seed

A performance I watched

Tell us about that first spark

My first spark was the moment when theatre became truly important to me.

Theatre opened up to me when I began to realise who I was. It was during this period that I understood how closely creativity, mind and body are connected. Theatre became a space for me where all of this comes together as one.

Then I realised that theatre can help you look at life’s difficulties differently — not as problems, but as opportunities for growth. This was a real breakthrough for me. Since then, theatre has been a constant presence in my life: I can imagine a scene, a situation or a role, and at that moment a deep internal analysis begins in my head. I see where I am wrong, what I feel and how I can change.

I believe that the best art comes from people who live it, not just perform it. That is why theatre has become not only an art form for me, but also a way of self-discovery.

I realised that I cannot always control circumstances or the plot of life, but I can always control myself — as a player in this theatre. This thought became my spark. It gave me the feeling that I could change something, rather than just following a given script.

It was at that moment that I realised: I want to be unique, extraordinary, I want to shine — and yes, I want to follow this path.

Roots (people & experiences that shaped your path)

Up until this point, my theatrical journey had been largely independent. I tried to develop myself on my own, searching for creativity within myself, because for a long time I simply did not have the opportunity to engage in theatre or art systematically. Our community has a large cultural centre with a stage, but it is in poor condition and virtually no one is involved in its development. Because of this, I often lacked the space, support and environment for creative growth.

The turning point was my experience participating in a theatre project by Rebelia. That’s when my world turned upside down. Through this theatre, I gained a deeper understanding of myself as a person and as a citizen. I realised that I am a true patriot, that I want to fight for my country and find my own path — through creativity, theatre or leadership.

This theatre camp became a reflection of the events that have taken place in Ukraine over the last few decades. It was an extremely powerful and profound experience. I perceived it as a true artistic masterpiece, because it was then that I realised my own value and responsibility. I understood that in order to create a new, strong state, we need people who think, feel and act — and that I can be one of them.
After this experience, I clearly felt my desire to put all my efforts into development: to learn, to gain experience from European artists, and later to pass on this knowledge to others. I want to attract grants, create my own projects, and support young people who are developing their creativity but do not have sufficient opportunities.

This theatre experience lasted only two hours, but it radically changed my perception of myself and the world. Since then, I have understood that there are no extremes and no limits — there is only the path of development.

The trunk (what keeps you in theatre)

I was motivated by creativity. But in reality, it wasn’t just that. It was something deeper than just the desire to create. It was my inner world. People don’t just use creativity — they put themselves into it. And from the very first time I saw theatre, my soul saw something more.

I wanted to develop, to find myself, so I started creating scenes at home with my sister, inventing characters, roles, emotional states. Even without a stage or an audience, theatre was already alive in me.

I continue to do theatre because it gives me strength. After each experience, a feeling of inner wisdom appears — as if you can look at your life from a different perspective. Through theatre, I get to know myself again and again: I act, analyse, change.

For me, theatre is both relaxation and hard work on myself. It is this combination that keeps me in it and does not allow me to stop.

Branches (future / desire)

In my opinion, theatre will play a role in my future as a kind of plane — an imaginary space where something new is born every time and where I get to know myself better. It’s like a separate world, a new part of the universe where I can be anyone and experience different states and roles.

In the coming years, theatre will help me not only creatively, but also in life. Sometimes I seem to ‘live’ in the theatre what I strive for: I play states, roles or situations that I want to understand or want to achieve. For me, theatre is first and foremost about feelings and emotions. I take something from every experience: calmness, strength, clarity or, conversely, an inner impulse for change.

After a performance, I often feel as if I have taken on a part of the character’s soul. I start to think like him or her and absorb the wisdom of the scenes I have lived through. This is how theatre shapes me from within.

For me, theatre is like a tree: everything starts with the soul, with an inner idea. Over time, it sprouts — turning into branches, leaves, flowers. In the same way, thoughts, ideas and experiences take shape through theatre.

I believe that I will be able to immerse myself in this art more deeply. Although I am not yet a professional, I already clearly understand that this is what I want to devote a significant part of my life to.

Are you currently involved in cultural activities?

Yes, sometimes

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

I chose the plane tree because it symbolizes wisdom and constant development. Its peeling bark reminds us that change helps us grow and discover new sides of ourselves. The plane tree is strong and resilient, just like me, capable of overcoming difficulties and adapting to new situations. Its wide crown gives space to others, just as I strive to inspire and support the people around me. It is because of these traits that I feel similar to this majestic tree.

Contact

Instagram: @maria_3d_visualizer

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