While talking with Aleksandar, one quickly gets the feeling that he is someone who knows how to get the most out of every opportunity. (maximizes the outcome of every given chance) When I asked him to describe himself, he didn’t use many words — patient, curious, respectful — yet you realize these three words stretch wide open when you see how he lives by them. 

Aleksandar grew up in Skopje, spent his first two high school years at Orce Nikolov before deciding he was ready for something more — something that would push him far beyond the limits of the city he loves so much. That something turned out to be UWC Adriatic in Italy. He learned about UWC through a friend and he realised that the value of this educational opportunity aligns with his own merits and principles. “I always wanted to challenge myself” he says and he really means it. You can see it in the way he talks about stepping out of his comfort zone: “Life is short and I see no reason for spending it in a protective bubble. I want to meet new people, experience new places.”

He’s no stranger in doing exactly that. In December 2022, Aleksandar joined an Erasmus exchange program in Poland, where he discovered just how transformative it can be to live, learn and laugh alongside people from all over Europe. 

Before he leaves for UWC, Aleksandar is spending this summer savoring what’s here and now before jumping into what’s next. Knowing that UWC Adriatic is famous for being bike-friendly, he borrowed his cousin’s bicycle and made it his mission to rediscover Skopje on two wheels, with feet on the pedals, music in his ears and eyes wide open. He even made a bucket list — thirty things to do before his departure, one of them being “Step foot in every borough of Skopje in 24 hours” (sounds like a challenge to me!) He is one step ahead and already has a Google Doc in which he is keeping track of the universities where he wishes to continue his education after UWC. “My cousin inspired me to do this,” he says, “He told me: do it now, enjoy later.” 

Mind you, ask him about memorable places that he treasures, in that case, Aleksandar won’t talk about skyscrapers — even though he once stood among the shimmering glass giants of Dubai for his brother’s graduation from NYU Abu Dhabi. “Skyscrapers are nice” he shrugs, “but only for a minute. I’d rather be by the sea.” His happiest place? The Greek coastline — salty sea air, open clear sky, endless horizons. Adventurous is one way to describe him, but infinite curiosity with bravery might fit better. At Adriatic he wants to try mountain biking, kayaking, mountaineering and of course the beach life on the Mediterranean coast. “I want to do it all” he laughs, fully aware there won’t be enough hours in a day for every plan of his.

At UWC Adriatic, he’s planning on studying Economics and Global Politics at Higher Level, plus Math Analysis and Interpretation. He is being well calculated in his decisions, though, having chosen a Higher Level Mathematics Analysis and Interpretations course, he is spending some of this time going over the math syllabus and filling the knowledge gaps. He’s open, though other than Math — his enthusiasm and curiosity refuses to stand still — so Italian, Biology and Macedonian Literature will travel with him too.

When he thinks about what he’ll miss, it’s a mix of small pleasures and big loves: the burek from Silbo bakery, stuffed with chicken fillet; the sound of Vlado Janevski’s song ‘Ova e nase Skopje’ blasting in his headphones; the warm ache of Tose Proeski songs that sound like home. And of course, his family — and his room, his nest that’s about to be swapped for something bigger and far less predictable.

Before we finished our chat, Aleksandar turned the questions back on me. “What do you regret not doing during your time at UWC?” he asked. It’s a typical Aleksandar-kind-of-question: he’s already thinking about living life without regrets, with lungs full of excitement, with a bucket list ready and open road leading him to knowledge, adventure, self-discovery.

Nela Chestojanova, july 2025