“I Am Not Alone: The Culture of Sharing Difficulties”

On February 10, 2026, an educational and awareness session entitled “I Am Not Alone”: The Culture of Sharing Difficulties was held at the Faculty of Philology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The event was attended by 3rd year students of the Faculty of Philology enrolled in the educational program “6B02303 – Foreign Philology (Western Languages).”

The session was conducted by Senior Lecturer of the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies, Ongarbaeva M.S., and first-year PhD doctoral student in Translation Studies, Otetileuova A.Zh. The event was organized as part of the faculty’s educational and preventive work aimed at supporting students’ mental well-being.

The main objective of the session was to raise students’ awareness of mental health challenges in university life, particularly those related to academic pressure, midterms, final exams, deadlines, and performance expectations. The speakers emphasized the importance of open communication, emotional support, and the development of a healthy attitude toward academic stress.

Special attention was given to the concept of Duck Syndrome, a phenomenon describing individuals who appear calm, confident, and successful on the outside while experiencing significant stress and anxiety internally. The presenters highlighted that this syndrome is common among university students, especially high achievers who feel the need to maintain a strong and successful image despite emotional exhaustion.

The session was conducted in an interactive format and included group discussions, reflective activities, and real-life examples related to students’ academic experiences. Students actively participated in discussions in English, sharing their perspectives on why academic struggles are often hidden and what consequences prolonged stress may have on mental health.

In conclusion, the session emphasized that sharing difficulties is not a sign of weakness but a vital step toward maintaining psychological well-being and academic success.

The event contributed to creating a supportive and trusting environment among students and encouraged them to seek help when needed, reinforcing the message that no student is alone in facing academic challenges.

Department of foreign philology and translation studies

Senior teacher M.S. Ongarbayeva

and PhD doctoral student Otetileuova A.Zh.