Zhanna Digilova
Advocating for those without a voice …
Zhanna Digilova of Brooklyn, NY immigrated to the United States from Nalchik, Russia in 1999 and currently is pursuing her Bachelor’s at NYU. In response to the persecution she and her family endured in Russia, she is working to become a lawyer who can advocate on behalf of those without a voice. In 2009, she was a recipient of The David Himelberg Memorial Scholarship Award.
In her own words: “As a Jewish female, being neither of the ‘right’ religion nor gender, my parents did everything they could to ensure that I wasn’t a victim of this oppression. In 1999, we ran away from Russia to the United States …. I knew then that this was the beginning of my new life. With the help of my amazing parents, I have learned to take advantage of everything that United States had to offer, particularly education.
“Connecting the history of my past to my present reality, I aspire to be a person who brings change. Having witnessed firsthand the abuse of human rights and the inadequacy of the government to protect them, I yearn to become a lawyer – an individual who will go the extra mile for people who are not in the position to defend themselves. An opportunity to obtain a college education grants me a unique ability to expand my knowledge and, through rigorous academic preparation focused on liberal studies, I will learn how to connect the abuse of human rights and the measures taken to defend those rights in the past to present day issues. By understanding the roots of common issues plaguing our society, I will become more discerning and capable of conceiving the best solution, making me a more conscious individual who can benefit our society to the greatest extent.”
