Student stories

Volodymyr — an experienced Full Stack Middle-Senior Developer with many years of experience working at IT Soft and Insaiders. Today, he is simultaneously leading three active IT projects:A file converter built with Python, Next.js, and AWS; A commercial Full Stack project with an admin panel based on Next.js, Node.js, and Express; An AI project with a frontend developed in React.Despite his busy professional schedule, Volodymyr finds time to teach at the Academy for Heroes. Today, we spoke with him about how education helps veterans start a new chapter in life, the challenges they face during training, and what inspires him most in this work:

Vasyl — a veteran who decided to start a new chapter of his life together with the Academy for Heroes. For him, studying has become not only an opportunity to acquire a new profession, but also a real path to recovery, self-fulfillment, and reintegration into social life. We learned what exactly he enjoys about studying and what his plans are after graduation:

If it weren’t for my wife, I probably would never have found out about this opportunity. I signed up somewhat randomly, but now I know for sure — it was the right decision. I even came up with my own project idea that I really want to implement.

The story of “Academy for Heroes” student Viktor Krupin is about resilience, self-belief, and new opportunities that arise even after the toughest trials. Viktor was born in Ukraine and earned his degree from the National University “Lviv Polytechnic,” graduating in 2019. After completing his studies, he began working for a construction company. However, his peaceful life was disrupted by the outbreak of the full-scale war. When enemy forces invaded Ukraine, Viktor did not stand aside—he joined volunteer formations and later enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His service was filled with dangers and challenges. During combat near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, he sustained an injury that changed the course of his life. After his injury, Viktor underwent a long period of treatment and rehabilitation. During this time, he had the opportunity to reflect on his future, as returning to his previous profession was no longer an option. That was when he turned his attention to the IT field—a sector that offers remote work opportunities, professional growth, and fair compensation.

My name is Natalia, and I am the wife of a veteran. I am a lawyer by education and a former civil servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, after two long maternity leaves, it was not easy to return to my previous job. Moreover, the war has made significant changes in my life.  

My name is Artur, and I have served in the army for over 20 years – working my way up from cadet to officer! During this time, I held various positions and took part in combat operations, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region. Given the impact of the war, I chose to transition from my military career to project management, where I can apply my leadership skills, teamwork abilities, and strategic planning experience to pursue new goals. Thanks to the Academy for Heroes, I am gaining the knowledge and practical tools necessary for successful project implementation, as well as mastering modern management approaches that will help me work effectively in the civilian sector.