Oleksandr Pedan on how he communicates with his student daughter
Even before the full-scale invasion, well-known Ukrainian TV presenter and public figure Oleksandr Pedan and his daughter Lera filmed the educational project “UniverCheck”. They traveled around Ukraine, inspected universities, and chose the “right one” for Valeria. Eventually, the daughter of the New Channel star became a student at UCU in Lviv. And in her new status, she went with her dad on another trip to Ukraine to shoot the second season of UniverCheck.
Both on screen and in real life, Alexander and Lera are very close and open to each other. The TV presenter exclusively told us how they live now, being at a distance:
“As soon as Lera entered the university and moved into the dormitory, she, like all children, wanted to separate herself and did not come home as often. About once a month, maybe less. Over time, it became clear how much she missed us, so after the New Year, she took every opportunity to come home. Even just on weekends – for a day and a half or two days. “We are very pleased with this!” Pedan says, “When Lera comes home, we talk a lot. We walk together in beautiful places in Kyiv. We drink coffee and eat sweets. Although she is 18 years old, she will always be a child for us (laughs).”
The star dad says that his daughter is constantly in touch with him and his wife Inna. Their relationship is built on trust, so conversations are always honest and open.
UniverCheck Alexander and Lera Pedan
“We discuss everything! From what to buy for the dorm room to parenting advice. My daughter, for example, consults with my wife about what to buy in terms of clothes. She usually throws a photo and asks what to choose. And she may ask me something about her studies. Once she even asked me about the terminology. “She often talks about her teachers and how the classes go,” Oleksandr laughs. I can understand something between the lines and, relying on my own experience, advise Lera on which teacher is better not to joke around with. But everything we do is advisory, and I never insist.”
Oleksandr admits that he hasn’t regretted for a minute that his daughter entered a university in another city. He believes that not only he and his wife, but also their daughter have positive impressions of such changes in their lives.
“I think it’s important not to miss out on student life. For example, when Lera came to Kyiv for a few days, and the weather was bad, she could stay in her room for a day or two. This is the generation: if you have gadgets and the Internet, you can take your time. And I think if she had studied in Kyiv, she would probably have spent a lot of time in her room, too,” Pedan shares his thoughts. “But Lera moved to another city, made new friends and connections. She is in constant communication with someone in the dorm. Also, full-fledged offline learning, as the security criteria at this university allow it. I am glad that my daughter enjoys studying at UCU in Lviv, communicating with her peers, and taking responsibility for her life.”
Watch the educational travel show “UniverCheck” with Oleksandr and Valeria Pedan every Saturday at 7:00 on New Channel!
Photo: press service
