Thinkers, creators and doers who bring our campus and city to life. Each story reveals what it truly means to learn, grow, and lead in New York City: the greatest classroom on Earth.
In this edition, we meet Milena Avagyan, a 22-year-old from Armenia studying a Bachelor in Business Administration in the 3+1 program, an accelerated pathway that lets students begin their master’s degree while completing their undergraduate studies.
For Milena, the program, and the city, represent an uncompromising invitation to grow, stretch, and become the version of herself she’s always aimed for.
When the opportunity to come to IENYC arrived, Milena didn’t take it lightly. It meant stepping into a new country, a new pace, a new expectation of who she could become.
“It felt scary at first,” she admits, “but I decided to take on the challenge.”
What ultimately convinced her wasn’t just the academic structure. It was purpose. Milena has long been driven by social impact, by the idea that business has the power to uplift communities and create meaningful change. “I value social impact very deeply,” she explains. “Learning how to strive toward impact in the business world sounded priceless.”
And then, of course, there was New York City itself: its magnetism, its intensity, and its promise.
“The opportunities you find here can never be found anywhere, and you shouldn’t miss the chance to live here in your youth.”
What made her choose this moment to take the leap? “I realized that if I ever wanted to grow, I had to challenge myself and take risks that I know will make my life better.” MIlena’s story shows that growth rarely feels comfortable. But that’s exactly why she came.
At IENYC, the program and the city work together; one providing structure, the other stretching your limits. For Milena, that combination has reshaped the way she learns, leads, and engages with others.
Academically, she’s pushed into high-level thinking. Personally, she’s pushed into self-awareness. But the biggest shift hasn’t been about theory… it’s been about people. “A skill I am truly learning here is listening to others,” she says. “Not listening to respond, but listening to understand.”
Whether in team meetings, presentations, or informal conversations, Milena has learned to pause, absorb, and genuinely consider the ideas around her before jumping in. “This is essential for teamwork, leadership, and even personal relationships.”
It’s a quiet skill, but one that changes everything; from how a team operates to how a person grows.
Like many IENYC students, Milena is discovering that the real lessons often appear in the pressure of deadlines, the complexity of group dynamics, and the pace of the city. “There are so many things I’ve learned since coming here,” she says.
The first is collaboration: how to work toward a shared goal even when the path isn’t linear. “Every group project makes it easier and easier to collaborate with others and understand people better.”
The second is adaptability. Moving to a new city is one thing; adjusting to its speed is another. “Completely changing your environment and having to get used to it in a matter of days is not easy at all,” she reflects. “But once you get to the other side, you realize how high the rewards are.”
And the third, and perhaps the most crucial, is initiative.
“In life, no one is going to hand you opportunities,” she says. “You have to be proactive, and this program gives you the tools to do that.”
It’s the kind of mindset that turns students into leaders, and possibility into action.
What sets New York apart is not just its energy, but its rhythm: fast, unforgiving, and full of possibility. For Milena, it’s been transformative.
The city makes you sharper. Braver. More open. It forces you to navigate new contexts, meet new people, and think more expansively about your place in the world. Every subway ride, every conversation, every unexpected interaction becomes part of the curriculum. New York doesn’t just test you. It guides you to who you’re becoming.
Milena describes her experience in three words: Excitement, Growth, Fun.
But underneath those words is something deeper: strength. “I’ve learned that I’m more adaptable than I realized,” she says. “And taking on something this big has helped me grow as a person.”
Looking forward, Milena feels grounded in her purpose and clearer about her path.
“IENYC is helping me understand what type of career I want to pursue next,” she says. “And it’s helping me navigate the complex job market of NYC through resources, networking events, and mentorship.”
Most importantly, she’s learning how to turn her passion for social impact into sustainable, practical action in the business world. “This support is what’s helping me take the next steps with confidence.”
Milena’s journey, from Armenia to Manhattan, from uncertainty to self-assurance, is a reminder of what IENYC is all about: transformation through challenge, courage, and community.
Here, learning isn’t confined to four walls.
It happens in team rooms, in subway stations, in moments of discomfort and clarity alike.
It happens in the greatest classroom on Earth.
The IENYC Hustle is a continuing series celebrating the people who make IE New York College extraordinary. Stay tuned for more stories of ambition, resilience, and inspiration… straight from the heart of the city that never sleeps.
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