Nina Berberova- The Italics Are Mine

"I was still choosing a profession for myself, and could still not decide. There was no one to get advice from, because at the time mankind, for me, was divided into two halves - well-wishers, who in my opinion understood less than I about these matters, and enemies, who out of sheer meanness would not give good advice" (73). 

From The Italics Are Mine by Nina Berberova 

Throughout this exert, Nina seems to be a curious and independent woman, who sees the beauty in life, but also the fabricated lies that society presents to us. She did not want another person to have a say in what she can and can't do. At a very young age, her fascination with finding a profession had engulfed her, as she knew she wanted something to be passionate about, but hated that jobs were mainly gender-based. The quote above shows Nina's persistence through all the hate and false expectations set for her. She proves herself throughout the passage that she was very self-aware but mainly did not care much about what others would think. She knew she would not get approval from anyone or anywhere, so she took it upon herself to get her own approval.

The Italics Are Mine by Nina Berberova

She speaks of living at home at the expense of your parents as like living in a "nest," which she describes to be the stereotypical way of growing up. She liked being alone and being able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. She gets excited about things that are "unexpected" (76) and unique. She never wanted to make clothes or cook in a kitchen like others wanted her to do, she wanted something she could grow with, and be inspired by, which is exactly what she ended up doing as an author.