As war rages at home, Ukranian student shares his culture with Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Davyd Samoilenko enrolled in a high school exchange program at Parkview Christian School in the fall of 2021, just months before a war broke out in his home country of Ukraine.

He heard other exchange students talking about the impending war and was left feeling confused and not sure what to believe.

“Different sources of information were telling so many different things,” Samoilenko said. “And it was really hard to navigate in all of that media and trying to figure out what’s actually true and should I over-panic or not.”

Samoilenko has been able to communicate with his family but said it is sometimes tough because of airstrikes around his family’s area.

He was looking for ways to keep his mind off the war. He found that in education and music.

Originally from the Poltava region of Ukraine, Samoilenko took this opportunity to educate his classmates on the war and share his culture and Ukraine’s history.

As the only Ukrainian at Parkview, he was “ready to share this story that I know.”

He is continuing his education at Southeast Community College and is still sharing information on the war with those around him.

He also volunteers every week at Bryan Health, playing the piano.

Sharing his talent and passion of performing has been a way for Davyd to keep busy during this time.

“When you’re not sure what’s happening, the worst thing that one can do to a person is make them not busy,” he said. “Therefore, I was looking for opportunities. What can I do?”