Understanding that the idea of borders is just a construct in our mind, placed by society, was one of the most important discoveries in my life.
Born as a Bosnian in a small city in south Serbia, soon after the breakdown of Yugoslavia and terrifying war, I was taught that nationalism, sticking to “your own” is the sole way of survival. War destroyed all hope and trust in humanity.
Bad economic conditions, ethnic tensions, and a pessimistic outlook lead me to leave my home. When I turned 14, I moved to Istanbul for my high school studies. An unfamiliar place, a language I didn’t speak a word of, people I did not know, all caused me to have a culture shock. While it was certainly difficult to adapt at first, in retrospect, it was one of the best decisions I have made. Seeing different ethnicities for the first time, hearing languages I have never heard before, trying out new food, and learning a new culture all made me question my perception about the world. We all share common values, enjoy same things, and cope with difficulties in a similar way.
Once I graduated from high school, I enrolled in Business Administration degree at Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus. I was once again in a highly international environment, with students from more than 100 countries but I had one goal on my mind, self-improvement. Staying on the island, isolated, with a relaxing Mediterranean climate, all created a perfect place for me to process and sort out thoughts, and new perspectives that were accumulating for the past couple of years.
In the meantime I started practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. A martial art based on employing your body and human anatomy to control and defeat opponents with minimum harm. Being highly applicable in real combat however while being safe and enjoyable. The idea of simulating “fighting to death” when rolling with teammates from various backgrounds, and being totally comfortable with it, all fit with my new beliefs. Compare yourself only to who you were yesterday, sacrifice your ego in order to learn, invest in yourself, and be patient in uncomfortable situations, they will not last forever.
My dream is to one day live in a society that is open to new experiences, cherishes our differences rather than being opposed to them. At the end, whatever your goals are, it is the quality of the journey that matters.