(Image: Barron Media)
A teenager who fled to the UK from war-torn Ukraine has excelled in her A-levels and now wants to work towards a career helping people back in her home country.
Anastasiia Sochka, who studied at English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College, in Hartlepool, achieved an A* in Russian, an A in Psychology, and a B in Sociology.
And she told this morning how she was "so happy" to break the good news in a call to her father, Andrew, who is fighting in the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian teenager Anastasiia Sochka, who fled the war in Ukraine and settled in Hartlepool, has achieved outstanding A-level results at English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
(Image: Barron Media)
"It was nice to be able to give him that good news because I wanted to make him happy.
"I miss him a lot," said Anastasiia.
"He's really busy in the Army, so I can't just call him any time, but he kept asking me to call him as soon as I found out my results.
"It has made him very happy."
Anastasiia came to the UK with her mother, Victoria, in the summer of 2022 and initially struggled because of the language difficulties.
Ukrainian teenager Anastasiia Sochka, who fled the war in Ukraine and settled in Hartlepool, has achieved outstanding A-level results at English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
(Image: Barron Media)
However, through her dedication and support from the school, she has done herself, her parents, and English Martyrs proud.
"I was in Year 10 when I first came and I tried to study French but I struggled and dropped out," she explained.
However, English Martyrs – part of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust – helped her to refocus.
"They helped me a lot of help by translating the work into Ukrainian when I first came, and then finding me a Russian tutor to help my study that language instead.
"I'm so happy with my results.
"I didn't expect an A in psychology – I only expected a C – so it's a nice surprise."
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Anastasiia will now study sociology at Newcastle University and hopes to pursue a career in which she can help people – possibly as a social worker.
"Lots of people are struggling in Ukraine now because of poverty due to the war, and I want to be able to help them.
"Seeing what's happened has influenced me and changed my life perspective.
"I hope that by the time I graduate, the war will be over," she added.