When I excitedly shared with Aleksandar that we had followed a similar path, from the bilingual English track at Orce to UWC Mostar, we immediately started a conversation about our most (and least) favorite subjects and cafes on Ilindenska. I was glad we got to reconnect, this time in a more relaxed setting, without the pressure of the selection rounds and with conversations about our shared interests, favorite singers, and planned summer getaways to Greece.

Before we dive deeper into Aleksandar's story, it's only right to say - UWC Mostar was always meant to be part of it. At the start of our Zoom call, he told me he visited Mostar a few years ago on a school trip, and after twenty extremely dull hours on a bus, arriving in Mostar felt like stepping into paradise. The sound of the Neretva river was calming, the restaurants full of life, and the food absolutely delicious. All of that is 100% accurate :).

One detail from our third-round interview that stuck with me was the big Charli XCX poster on the wall behind Aleksandar. He has finally saved up enough money this summer to go to her concert (!!) in Finland - and excitement doesn't even begin to cover it. He told me that what he admires most about her personality is her courage to be unapologetically herself, without caring what others think of her. Honestly, I admire and slightly envy her for that, too. It's even inspired him to start his own self-discovery journey, a process through which he wants to encourage himself to make sure that what he shows to the world is an accurate reflection of the real him.

But who is Aleksandar, really? I'd describe him as a true embodiment of the Gen Z spirit - curious about the world, incredibly funny, and full of empathy. While he has countless interests spanning from music to environmental issues, he's still figuring out which CAS activities and subjects he'd like to focus on in Mostar. But he is by no means "lost." On the contrary, he already has clearly defined priorities and sounds like someone who knows himself well. Over the past year, he's come to a realization that takes most people years to understand and apply - that what matters the most is the way you feel about yourself, not how others see you or what they want you to be. He's started doing things that benefit him personally or simply...things that make him happy. Maybe that's also why Aleksandar didn't sound even slightly nervous about the UWC experience ahead because he is confident in his ability to take on this new challenge.

He doesn't hide the fact that his biggest priorities are his family and friends. I could immediately tell how much he cares about them when he said that his favorite thing about this profile is that his loved ones will get to read it (Hi everyone!). What he appreciates most about his friend group is that everyone plays their own unique role. When I asked him about his role, he said he's the one who always reminds everyone not to be late, only to be an hour and a half late himself because he lives the furthest from everyone. In a weird way, I think that what he told me sums Aleksandar up well: he has a laid-back attitude that many can only envy, and at the same time, he loves his friends so much that he'll travel 40 minutes by bus just to spend time with them.

Without a doubt, Aleksandar already belongs at UWC Mostar. His curiosity about life beyond the Balkans, his million little interests, and his love for his friends make him exactly who he is. And while the next two years will be transformative in many ways, I hope - and I know - that the essence of who he truly is won't fade. I wish him all the happiness in the world.

Ivana Budzarovska, august 2025