I was born in Moscow in 2003. My life is very interesting. You can tell I am a creative person just by the way my parents planned for me to come into this world, which was quite an unusual process. If one did not know that this is truly my life, one might think it was just a series with new and unexpected twists. By the way, if I ever get the chance, I would love to make a film about my life full of surprises.

From the age of 3 to 16, I trained professionally in figure skating. I became a champion in both national and international competitions, including the Grand Prix. I practiced a lot, spending my entire childhood in training, going to school only to submit assignments and take tests.

Now, I am studying at the Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, as well as at the Institute of Psychology, focusing on Gestalt therapy.

I run my own figure skating school, “AllLen’s Ice,” where I train children and adults, organizing and conducting competitions for both my students and athletes from cities like Chita, Kazan, and Cheboksary. We also host events, putting on demonstration performances followed by fun relays, outings, and quests, and enjoying delicious tea with cake made by my dad, who is also a creative person. We hold training camps where we not only train hard for 12 days, 5 hours a day, but also enjoy time together, go on excursions, and have picnics.

For me, it is important to give my students not only sports skills, to place them on the podium, strengthen their character, and teach them how to overcome challenges, but also to develop them in a psychologically healthy environment. All of our students participate out of their own desire, and we carefully and lovingly find the key to each individual student. This approach allows us to achieve great results, develop psychologically, and maintain warm relationships with both students and their parents.

Very soon, I will also begin my private practice as a psychologist using the Gestalt approach. I am interested in psychology and people. At 16, I realized that I didn’t want to continue living as I had been; if I didn’t change my life, I would remain stuck in a swamp. I decided to become happy, no matter the cost, and that marked the beginning of my journey—first through psychological trainings and marathons, then starting at 17, I began seeing a psychologist, exploring myself, and moving toward self-discovery, changing my life. At 20, I enrolled in an institute to become a psychologist, and I am currently continuing my studies while also working as a therapist during intensive training sessions.

As a child, I loved engaging in creative activities; our home was filled with boxes of crafts and drawings. Although I spent all my time at skating rinks and training, whenever I had a free moment, I would start creating something.

I began painting at 18. I felt an intense desire to create, so I bought canvases, brushes, and paints and got started. When I take a brush, paints, and a canvas, I never initially know what I will create; there’s only an image that has come to me from above, waiting to be realized on the canvas. Each time, something extraordinarily beautiful and meaningful comes to life.

Now, I continue to paint inspired by what moves me and by my available time; when something significant comes to mind, I transfer it to the canvas. If I don’t have a canvas or paints on hand, I use a special stylus to draw on my iPad using digital techniques.

I also manage various social media accounts, one of my favorites being TikTok, where I have over 400,000 followers. I would love to continue creating content there once all the restrictions are lifted.

I also have a song “in the drawer” that is waiting for its moment to shine, but everything has its time.

In general, I can tell you many more interesting things, but for an initial introduction, this should suffice!
Artist, Syria
Elena Al Shannan
The Tale of Tsar Saltan,
А. Pushkin

Oil on canvas
"If I were a queen...", 2024
Artist, Syria
Elena Al Shannan
"I loved you..."
A. S. Pushkin
Read by Wassuf Mario, Syria
Student of Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistics University named after N.A. Dobrolyubov.
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Galina Petrova - head of the Educational center “Preparatory faculty for foreign citizens”
I loved you: yet the love, maybe,
Has not extinguished in my heart;
But hence may not it trouble thee;
I do not want to make you sad.
I loved you hopelessly and mutely,
Now with shyness, now with jealousy being vexed;
I loved you so sincerely, so fondly,
Likewise may someone love you next.
"I loved you..."
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin