p There is nothing out of the ordinary about the beginning of her professional biography. I feel the urge to describe her in the usual journalese manner—a girl with pigtails and 136 staring eyes fearfully entering the workshop. Yet, it really was like that—the pigtails, the staring eyes, and the shyness. And, luckily, she had the reliable hand of a senior to support her.

p It is hard to say what turn the professional biography of Natasha Monikainen would have taken, were it not for her elder sister who brought her to the factory. There was nothing unusual about that, though; many people come to the factory for the first time with their parents, sisters or brothers. At first the elders stand by, instruct them and watch them work. It is a great help to the novice.

p It takes six months to learn the trade of pressing. In the seventh month the apprentice becomes a full-fledged worker, or rather he is regarded as one, because the six-month course is sometimes insufficient. Today Natasha says that her job is quite easy, and that it was not difficult to learn the trade at all. “You’ve got to be on the move, that’s all,” she says. She forgot her anxiety in the beginning and failure to keep up the pace; she forgot about the fatigue and the initial clumsiness which led to spoilage.

p It is fine when people next to you are sympathetic, when no one scolds you or reminds of your worker’s duties, when they understand that it is excess of energy that leads you astray. Such people are in no hurry to jump to conclusions; they know that with time people get accustomed to the work and acquire the necessary skill. Natasha was lucky to have such people around her.

p She learned her trade to perfection and earned the title of Communist Shock Worker. The YCLers elected her to the shop Komsomol bureau.

p Once a month the Komsomol group reviewed their achievements and drawbacks. The laggards had it hot. But when they found fault with an apprentice, the approach was quite different.

p Care for novices is the basic principle of the factory’s Komsomol organisation. A few years ago the factory YCLers were among the first in the republic to advance the slogan "No laggards!" Today’s apprentice is tomorrow’s qualified worker, and the sooner he acquires skill and experience, the better it is for all. Naturally, it is not only the newcomer’s own business; he must be guided by an experienced hand.

p Natasha soon became an instructor herself and helped many apprentices on the way. She was friendly with all of them, but particularly so with Svetlana.

p Svetlana came to shop No. 4 for a practical course. Later she graduated from the vocational school and came to work permanently. Apart from the usual failures common to all beginners, Svetlana could not stay in her place for more than half an hour; she always wanted to see what was happening elsewhere. The foreman was furious because the press was standing idle and the work quota went to blazes.

p Natasha saw all this because they worked in the same shift. Soon she guessed the cause. It was useless, she thought, to call on the girl’s conscience when she hardly knew how to work. And so Natasha began to teach Svetlana the trade.

p “She must have nerves of iron,” Svetlana said later. "I always got on her nerves, but she never raised her voice!”

p Perhaps it was just this that made an impact—kindness and patience. When Svetlana’s neighbour went on vacation, Natasha took over her press. Now they work side-by-side, the instructor and the beginner. When Svetlana gets bored with her job, Natasha lays a hand on her shoulder and quietens her down.

p Svetlana is not an easy person to understand, and though only 17, she has seen life. She became independent quite early, and she knows the meaning of kindness and care. When she came to know Natasha, she immediately realised that she was the kind of friend she wanted, a person she could respect. All teenagers crave for such friends, but not all find them. Svetlana knows that she is very lucky.

p Once she overfulfilled the norm. Her workmates were sceptical, but Svetlana was proud and happy. True, that was the only occasion, but she will never forget that month. She will always remember Natasha’s joy and congratulations.

p Svetlana is only seventeen. There is plenty of time to master the press and bridle her own restlessness. The main thing is that she proved to herself and others that she can work. The YCLers accepted her as member of the Komsomol. One of the recommendations was given by candidatemember of the CPSU, Natasha Monikainen.

p A year has rolled by, and many events occurred in Natasha’s life. She received her Party-membership card, and 138 she was elected to the bureau of the Petrozavodsk Town Komsomol Committee. In addition she was elected deputy to the republic’s Supreme Soviet. That is a responsible position.

I want to say a few words about the word “instructor”. Usually, when we speak about an instructor we imply an elderly, grey-haired veteran worker. But in this case we have a young girl with nothing imposing about her. Yet she represents hope, support and exemplary conduct for newcomers—she is one of the factory’s family of workers.