In 2021, a graduate refused to shake Higin's hand at the diploma ceremony. Now BSU does not want to confirm it
Natalia Hryharenka managed to move to New York in five years. And everything was fine until a problem with her diploma arose.
Natalia Hryharenka. Screenshot of a TikTok video
Natalia Hryharenka was remembered by Belarusians for her act. The girl graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of BSU in 2021, becoming a psychologist. At that time, propagandist Vadim Higin was the dean of the faculty.
Natalia came to the solemn diploma awarding ceremony in a vyshyvanka. The girl, who was detained at one of the women's marches in 2020, fundamentally refused to shake Higin's hand.
«As I walked towards the dean, it seemed to me that his face changed and he became angry. Even before reaching the dean, I stated that I would not shake his hand. He said something like «well, don't then», — the graduate later recounted.
At the 2021 diploma ceremony, Higin extended his hand to the graduate, but she refused to shake it. Screenshot of a TikTok video
Then Higin still tried to grab the girl's hand when handing over the diploma — but she pulled away. The propagandist was clearly not pleased.
Natalia received a green card and moved to the USA — she now lives in New York. The girl has two options: continue her education or work in her specialty, especially since there is already a job offer.
However, in both cases, Natalia needs to evaluate her BSU diploma (this is an assessment of an education document to compile an official characteristic according to American standards) — and difficulties have arisen with this.
In a TikTok video, Natalia barely holds back tears:
— I tried to contact BSU in all possible ways. I contacted my former teachers, hoping someone would help me with the diploma confirmation.
The girl is outraged that she paid a lot of money for her education — and as a result, the university that received that money refuses to confirm the diploma.
— There are companies that contact institutions for money — because they have their own communication channels. I contacted such a company — it works with 30 universities in Belarus, but not with BSU — because BSU refuses to confirm diplomas.
Natalia emotionally says that her diploma can now be thrown in the trash, as it's just a piece of cardboard. She regrets not applying to universities abroad after school due to difficult family circumstances.
When Natalia was 17, her father passed away:
— I felt sorry to leave my mother, who also died two years later. And now I have nothing! I managed to get a green card, I moved with two cats and a suitcase. I managed! But I cannot get confirmation from BSU. Thank you very much!