Nestled in the southern portion of Europe, Bulgaria is a beautiful country with rich heritage. Plus, it’s the home of 2016 MOS World Champion, Georgi Boshev. Georgi has used his MOS certifications and success at the competition in a more non-traditional way. Read the interview below to find out how Georgi has leveraged his technological knowledge to find his path in the medical field.
bahabeach: Thanks for sharing your story, Georgi. We’re so excited that you’re taking the time to chat with us.
Georgi: Of course! It’s been over a year since I participated in the competition, so it’s great to catch up.
bahabeach: Tell us about your certifications and what years you participated in the competition.
Georgi: Well, I’m a 2010 and 2013 MOS Master, and I participated in the MOS World Championship in 2014, 2015, and 2016. 2016 was actually the year when I won first place in the Word 2010 track.
bahabeach: And how do you feel like your experience at the competition and earning your certifications has helped you?
Georgi: Getting certified helps me verify my skills. Right now I’m still a student, but people tend to believe in my skills and let me do more work than other students. Having the certification helps me prove that I actually know what I’m talking about.
bahabeach: Absolutely! It’s evidence that you know what you say you know. Tell us a little more about what you’re studying and pursuing right now as a student.
Georgi: After the competition, I graduated from the English Language School “GPAE Geo Milev” in Burgas, Bulgaria. Right now I am a student in the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria. In addition to my medical studies, I’m also working in the student union helping with Microsoft Office products, building tables, presentations, and other documents. Since they know I’m certified and have the knowledge, professors and students know they can come to me for help.
bahabeach: What do you think is the most important skill you gained by earning your certification?
Georgi: I would say the most important thing you gain is knowledge. You really can’t put a price tag on how crucial knowledge is to success. Plus, my long term goal is to become a surgeon, which is such a stressful job. Some may not think that my MOS certifications would help me become a doctor, but I disagree.
Working with computers my whole life and going to the US three times to compete in the MOS World Championship has helped me become more focused and relaxed under a heavy workload. These skills are crucial for me as a medical student and future surgeon. Certification isn’t all about the hard skills that you learn, like building spreadsheets or designing presentations. A lot of it is about the soft skills, like working under pressure and balancing your time.
bahabeach: That’s so true. Now that it’s been a year since you participated in the competition, what would you say is your fondest memory from the 2016 MOS World Championship?
Georgi: My favorite experience from the competition was when I called my Mom after receiving the award. That’s definitely a moment that I will never forget, and something I’ll always be proud of.
Sometimes, earning certifications is about more than just the hard skills. It’s about instilling confidence to help you and your students prepare for a bright future, whether in medicine or IT.
Learn more about how to give your students the confidence to succeed by visiting www.moschampionship.com.