Where I’m From: Atlanta, GA
Current Hometown: Dacula, GA
Favorite Balkan Song: Kruska by Miligram
Favorite Balkan Dish: Grah ☺️
1. Can you start off by telling us a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where are you currently living?
I am a born and raised Georgia peach. My parents moved here in 1997, and we have lived here ever since. I grew up in the suburbs of Gwinnett County and moved to Athens in 2016 for my undergrad. Last year, I graduated from the University of Georgia (#GoDawgs) with a major in Exercise and Sports Science, and now, I am pursuing a doctorate in Physical Therapy at Georgia State University.
2. What does being first-generation mean to you? Feel free to share any challenges you have faced while growing up in the United States.
I didn’t realize what being a first-generation meant until high school when I started my college applications. I would get to the family history section that asked for “parent 1 highest level of education,” and at that point, I realized how much my parents actually gave up for me. My parents had just graduated high school when the war in Bosna broke out, and for one of my parents, high school would be the extent of their education.
In those moments, I realized that I owed it first to my parents to become the most successful version of myself and to live out my dreams when they never could. At first, being called a first-generation seemed almost like an insult, but I now carry that with me as a token of pride. This pride is driven by my father’s determination to make a name for himself; growing up, he helped me with all my schoolwork, and I was grateful when the tables turned and I could repay him by editing all of his college essays. Being able to celebrate a graduation with the man that continuously gives me the world is a feeling I can’t explain.
3. We understand that you’re involved with the Bosnian community in Atlanta, can you tell us a little more about projects you’ve worked on, events you’ve helped organize, etc.? What advice would you give to diaspora who are maybe having a hard time connecting/finding a place in their respective communities?
I don’t know anything besides my house, school, and the Bosnian community here in ATL. I started attending mekteb there when I was 5 and have gone there every week since. It was almost second nature to me to have a leadership role with our youth group, and with that, we have been able to do so much as a team. I don’t even know where to begin. We started off small by hosting yearly bonfires and potlucks; our group helped plan Bajramske sijele and celebrations for Bosnian Independence Day. We also did a lot of community outreach like the back-to-school drive, winter care packages for the homeless, and we started an annual tradition of bringing lunches to our local first responders during the holidays.
I think joining a new community can be difficult at times, but it is important to remember that every single individual you encounter has gone through a completely different experience in their lives and only brings a new perspective to the group. With that being said, just be open-minded and know that you will always be a positive addition to any group ☺️
4. Have you found that your Balkan heritage has always remained at the forefront of your life or have you had times where you’ve tried to hide parts of yourself in order to “fit in” with everyone else?
Being Balkan was honestly my personality trait growing up. Do you need a fun fact? Oh well …. “I’m Bosnian” or “I know 5 languages.” I valued being different than all my other classmates and owed it to my parents to not forget my heritage. Keeping my heritage alive has allowed me to experience life through two different lenses, and I have been able to connect with our cultures more easily.
5. We saw that you finished your undergrad at UGA and have continued to further your education in medicine. What are you currently studying and where do you see yourself in the next several years? Any words of wisdom for other aspiring doctors?
I am currently a 2nd year DPT student at Georgia State. It has been a roller coaster of a year learning to navigate graduate school in a global pandemic especially with a profession that is very hands-on. I am so indecisive I don’t think I can pinpoint where I see myself in the next several years. I would love to do travel PT, but I also have a love for acute care, pediatrics, and sports….. And neuro haha. At the end of the day, I don’t care where I am as long I get to help people get back to their normal lives. The one thing I learned throughout my time thus far is to be flexible. Things will probably never go as you plan, but as long as you’re resilient it will turn out good in the end.
6. How do you believe that we (as diaspora) can continue to keep our culture alive for generations to come?
Communication…Talking about our history and first-hand experiences is the best way to keep our culture. Along with this, getting involved in your local community events is a great way to meet new people and make a difference. As long as we provide the future generations with the resources to learn, our culture can keep on living ☺️
7. Anything else you’d like to share with our audience?
Take time to know yourself. I feel like many of us (diaspora) go through an identity crisis trying to balance being American and Balkan. Sometimes we think we have to choose one over the other, but I think it becomes our biggest strength when we learn how to blend the two together.