Sofia Sorokina graduates from Australian Catholic University after fleeing Ukraine

Sofia Sorokina described her life as being “on pause indefinitely” when she fled from Ukraine and landed on the Gold Coast. See how she managed to pick up the pieces and succeed.

Sofia Sorokina left her father, home, friends, and dreams of becoming a doctor, to start a new and safer life in Australia. She received her first undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Australian Catholic University (ACU),

A Ukrainian university graduate who fled from her home town after it was bombed by Russian forces three years ago has described her degree as a “symbol of resilience and hope”.

Sofia Sorokina, who dreams of becoming a doctor, has graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Australian Catholic University (ACU) this week after she was forced to leave her father and friends when her home town, Kharkiv, was bombed in the first week of the war three years ago.

She described her life as being “on pause indefinitely” when she fled from Ukraine to Poland with her Grandmother and landed in the Gold Coast on March 8 in 2022.

“When the war in Ukraine broke out, everything changed overnight. I had to leave behind my home, my friends, my dreams of becoming a doctor and the life I had worked so hard to build.”

“It (the degree) means reclaiming a future that was almost taken from me,” she said.

She is now a step further to becoming a doctor and a scholarship for refugees on Temporary Protective Visas seeking asylum in Australia, including Ukrainians who fled the war, made it all possible.

“But studying in Australia gave me the chance to start over. It wasn’t just about earning a degree, it was about rebuilding my identity and sense of purpose.”

“Graduation feels like a powerful moment of closure and a new beginning. I feel incredibly proud, a little nostalgic, and very excited for the future,” Sofia said.

The next step of her journey after she graduated on April 17 will see Ms Sorokina start a medical degree at Monash University in Melbourne.

“Getting into Monash University Medical School, and on a scholarship, was the moment I’d been dreaming of for so long,” Sofia said.

“It felt like all the sacrifices, long nights of study, and moments of doubt had finally paid off. I was overwhelmed with emotion — joy, relief, and deep gratitude.”

In a message for fellow Ukrainian refugees in Australia, Ms Sorokina said “please don’t give up”.

“There are days when you might feel lost or invisible, questioning whether it’s even worth continuing, but I want you to know this: you are stronger than you realise,” Sofia said.

“Every single day you choose to keep going, even when it’s hard, is a victory. Your resilience, your courage to try again, is something truly powerful.

“Take one small step at a time, and keep believing in yourself, even when the world feels heavy. Your story matters. Your future matters. And no matter how uncertain things seem now, there is hope. Always.”

Originally published as Sofia Sorokina graduates from Australian Catholic University after fleeing Ukraine