You're not defeated if you don't give up

"Believe in yourself and you can do anything!" - under this motto, on September 24, a motivational training was held with the participation of Alexei Talay. The event took place at the Center for Student Art Creativity of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy.

Students, teachers and academy staff were looking forward to this meeting with a person whose life after the explosion of a Great Patriotic War mine became a real feat. Alexey lost his arms and legs and received many shrapnel wounds at the age of 16, but did not give up and, having gone through the path of accepting his personal tragedy, a new himself, became a famous Paralympic athlete, the world champion and the champion of Europe in swimming.

The path of self-acceptance in a new body was very difficult. But, thanks to the support of his parents, close people, friends, Alexey coped with the hard task, learned English and German, mastered the computer, graduated from the Faculty of History of BSU, received a black belt in karate, visited many countries with lectures on how people with disabilities do not fall into depression and, if possible, live a full life. In the West, Alexei is called the second Nick Vuychich.

Nowadays, Aleksey Talay is a father of four children, a successful businessman, a delegate to the Supreme National Assembly, an honored peacemaker, a member of the constitutional commission of the Republic of Belarus, the winner of the state award - medal of Francisk Skorina, laureate of prizes of the President of the Republic of Belarus, holder of the Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation. Alexey is also the founder and head of the Alexei Talay Charity Foundation, which was opened in 2018 to help people in need of support, especially the disabled, seriously ill children, as well as orphans and children left without parental care. Alexey helps children affected by the fighting in the Donbass, teaches them not to despair, conducts swimming training for them. The Alexei Talay Foundation organizes the supply of humanitarian aid for people in the territories affected by military conflicts.

Alexey shared his story with those present, talking about people whose example and support became incentives for him to move on. He several times returned to the memories of the heroic past of his grandfather Alexei Trofimovich Talay - a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, spoke about his worries about modern conflicts between fraternal peoples, called for unity, peace, preservation of historical memory, spirituality, traditional family values, and culture.

Alexey Talay expressed the hope that people with power will come to their senses and start making the right decisions so that we all see a bright future together, so that children and adults do not suffer.

The students asked the motivational speaker many questions, and Alexey answered as honestly as possible, with a soul "wide open." Alexey Talay voiced an interesting thought: "You are not defeated if you don't give up," thereby pushing the audience to move on, overcome obstacles, negative emotions and doubts.

During the meeting, no one remained indifferent, an atmosphere of kindness and optimism reigned in the place.

Alesya TSEVAN
Photo: Alexander Gurikov