Two years ago, the world was plagued by a global pandemic that stole millions of lives, caused international economies to erupt and tore at the United States’ already delicate two-party system. Now, the pandemic is slowly being reeled in, but the world is about to face a different kind of plague: the threat of world war.

In Western Europe, Russian tensions toward former Soviet country Ukraine reached an earth-shattering pinnacle on Feb. 24 when Russian president Vladimir Putin commanded a Ukrainian invasion in the middle of the night.

In just the first week following the assault, countries across the globe have taken a firm stance at Ukraine’s side and have already shown Russia that a 21st century war will not be kind to anybody.

In the United States, Ukrainian-Americans have found solace in each other as well as from millions of empathetic neighbors, allies, co-workers and friends.  

Junior Emily Goodpaster has attended Pleasant Valley schools for four years and has made her mark on the PV community as a varsity volleyball player, harpist and co-founder of the Future Physicians of America Club. 

Her social media presence reflects her steadfast devotion to friends and family, and her most recent post sheds light on her identity as a Ukrainian-American. The caption reads, “so crazy to think that the country I spent so much of my childhood in is being ruined. I love this country so much, and it’s so hard to watch and not be able to do anything.” 

With family in Europe, Emily Goodpaster summered in Ukraine throughout childhood and even spoke Ukrainian when she was younger. Living in a multicultural household, she was raised on a combination of her father’s American customs and her mother’s Ukrainian traditions and learned from an early age to appreciate a diversity of perspectives and experiences. She attributes a significant part of her identity today to her time growing up in Ukraine.

It has been 10 years since she has visited the country, yet she embraces its influence all around her.

The conflict overseas is unanimously and internationally devastating. Prayers, donations and monetary and military support from across the world are being sent to Ukraine as contributions to their passionate efforts. 

It isn’t easy to see through the clouds when a storm is demolishing everything in its path. However, Emily Goodpaster expressed, “I only feel positive things when I think of Ukraine. It’s brought me so many memories, and especially now, it’s opened my eyes to see that when people come together they really can do anything.” 

She went on to share, “I feel extremely proud right now seeing how the people of Ukraine are standing up to Russia – it’s incredible; Ukraine and President Zelenskyy are setting such an inspiring example to the rest of the world right now.” This hopeful point of view is arguably uncommon in a news age of straight facts and heart-sinking headlines.

While maintaining a realistic mindset about unity conquering hate, she tries to remind people that only love can drive out hate. 

Thousands of Russian soldiers are loyally defending their country, but not all necessarily have the same intrinsic motivation as Ukrainian soldiers defending their homes. “I think that having the people of Ukraine know that we are all behind them really gives them a morale boost,” she detailed. “Russia really lacks that right now, and it’s ultimately led to the downfall of some of their soldiers. Some of them don’t even know why they’re there.”

This overwhelming support for Ukraine has especially manifested itself within social media. TikToks, Instagram posts, YouTube videos and more have all garnered attention online – particularly from a younger generation, to whom war had so far been a concept reserved for history books.

This controversy has the potential to become the first major war during the media age, which adds another extremely poignant element to the tension. Emily Goodpaster explained that, on the positive side, this intense media coverage forces Putin into the public eye and keeps him from hiding any longer. 

In her own Instagram post, however, she openly expressed frustration at “not [being] able to do anything.” On the contrary, just that one message has already made a small but significant impact. Social media is integral to modern communication, and she has taken her story and shared it. 

Like mother, like daughter

Emily Goodpaster inherited her natural drive for activism from her mother, Myroslava Goodpaster, who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine in 2001 after meeting her husband while studying in America. While she was deeply in love and eager to begin the next chapter of her life, Myroslava Goodpaster recalled crying uncontrollably when boarding the plane to Michigan for the first time after the wedding. She was leaving behind parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and a twin sister in addition to saying goodbye to her home country. 

Quickly after arriving in the U.S., Myroslava Goodpaster found a community of other international families to connect with. Even in the depths of her despair, the kindness and unity from others allowed her to rise up. 

This pattern of unity in the midst of adversity holds fast today. 

Raising her three children Emily, Natalie and Daniel to appreciate and respect their Ukrainian heritage was very important to Myroslava Goodpaster. She shared, “I want my kids to be sensitive and nice to other cultures as well, and I see that in them, and that makes my heart happy.” 

While Myroslava Goodpaster’s heart has seen much happiness over the years, these past few weeks have brought on a flood of new emotions.

On the evening of Feb. 24, American news channels announced the commencement of the Russian attack. It was 4 a.m. for the Goodpasters’ Ukrainian relatives. “I think, unfortunately, I found out about the invasion before my friends and family in Ukraine. It’s so sad because nobody expected that that would actually happen, [but] I’m watching the news here, and they are saying ‘Russian army and Russians are coming close, and they might be invading,’” she recalled. 

While it was anticipated that Eastern Ukraine would hypothetically be attacked, nobody had any expectations for the West to be invaded. Ukrainians were not prepared.

Myroslava Goodpaster provided a necessary point of view on the truth of war. “With the help of the United States and the other countries and the people – just the people – I know we are going to… I don’t want to say win – there’s no win here because the country is destroyed. So many people are dead, so it’s not like we’re going to win. But we are going to make Putin leave the country and keep our country.”

She is right: there is no win. The country is destroyed. But they will seemingly continue to fight with no end in sight.

And the fight felt closer to home than ever when devastating news arrived this week during one of Myroslava Goodpaster’s daily check-ins. A beloved family friend lost her 37-year-old husband to the war. He leaves behind three small children and a wife, who must now make the difficult decision to stay in her lifelong home or take her family to join the millions of refugees who have sought safety in a new country.

Such daily updates often leave Myroslava Goodpaster feeling helpless.

So from the United States, she has implemented activism and advocacy into her everyday life. Like her daughter, she has taken to social media to answer questions; many Ukrainians and Russians alike are still incredibly confused. She wears traditional Ukrainian embroidered clothing in public in hopes that someone will stop and ask her the question so simple, yet so meaningful: “Are you from Ukraine?”

Local Ukrainian support communities have popped up in Dubuque and Chicago. In the coming weeks, the Goodpasters will be organizing a protest in Davenport, Iowa to call the Quad Cities to action. 

Senior Tarun Vedula expressed interest in attending a rally to show support. “It makes us realize that even though the battle is really far away, there are Ukrainians and Russians here who are being affected, as well as outside supporters also feeling the impact. It is a worldwide event, and we need to support each other.”

For those back in Ukraine, explained Myroslava Goodpaster, civilians have adopted a new way of saying hello and goodbye; Ukrainians have begun to greet one another with far more compassion. One person begins with the salute, “Glory to Ukraine,”  and the other responds with “Glory to its heroes.” This pledge is reminiscent of “peace and glory” — the direct translation of Myroslava’s very own name. 

Although war may seem far away for Spartans, peers and community members continue to prove the power of globalization. Myroslava Goodpaster reinstated her family’s true intent in their efforts. “We just want to come out and not be quiet – just show that we are here. We love Ukraine. We are here with Ukraine.”

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on March 7, 2022.