I grew up in a country that has gone through NATO bombings and horrific wars. Generations raised under such conditions were taught it was our responsibility to increase employment, foreign investments, and GDP for our small country. However, somewhere along the way, we forgot to invest in the fundamental value of development—education.
Since I was little, I always dreamt about a purposeful career that would help change our world for the better. So, when the time came, I started to pursue a law degree. After graduating, I joined one of the best regional law firms, ready to fight for justice. But after almost two years at that firm, I found myself just helping companies optimize their businesses.
I decided to leave the firm (which my peers saw as very odd) and search for a bigger purpose. What did I really want to do? I remembered one of my high school dreams of improving Serbia’s education system. At the time, our country had serious issues with brain drain and plagiarism.
Going back to my original dream, I joined the Novak Djokovic Foundation. Many Serbian preschools are in terrible condition because they haven’t been renovated since the 1990s, and all the toys, books, and didactic material are too outdated for modern education. The foundation has built or reconstructed 45 kindergartens, helping around 30,000 children. I am proud to be a part of this and glad I followed my heart.
I’d like to praise myself for being able to leave one of the top law firms. Every day I’m with the team of the foundation makes me feel as if I’m helping my country take a step forward. By believing in children’s dreams, I’m continuing to make my dream come true.
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