Bujanovac – In less than a week, Teodora Stojilkovic was declared a student of the generation of the secondary school "St. Sava" in Bujanovac, admitted to the prestigious University "Sciences Po" in France and received a scholarship "Emile Boutmy" in the amount of 7,300 euros.

These days, the young woman from Bujanovac is realizing her dreams. In fact she is realizing them herself by hard work, sacrifice and indisputable talent. However, she still needs a little help, because to become a student at one of the most recognized faculties in the field of political science and international relations, she will need another 3,400 euro scholarship.

She says that she hopes that someone will recognize the opportunity that presented itself to her to leave a mark and do something great.

“I was admitted to a university which, according to the latest research, is ranked second in the world in the field of political science and international relations.  I received the second largest scholarship of the university or the largest one for the students coming from the countries outside the European Union. As they told me, the best of the best students get that scholarship. In general, in order to be admitted to "Sciences Pro", I had to be an A student in secondary school, have letters of recommendation from my teachers and international organizations, which I deserved during my schooling and activities taken outside of school. There were many criteria that needed to be met, and one of them was participation in student exchange programs. The interview I had was the last step. It sublimates everything you know and everything you did, the way you think and speak – you can not prepare for something like that, in fact you have been preparing for it all your life," Teodora said.

She will be studying on the campus in the city of Reims, with her peers from all over the world. The studies last for three years, while the last year takes place at colleges such as Harvard, Oxford, Yale and Princeton, which speaks volumes about where a student from Bujanovac has set off.

The sum of 3,400 euros per year is now the only obstacle on that path. It is an insurmountable obstacle for Teodora, since neither she, nor her family, can provide that amount.

“It remains for me to try to secure a scholarship at least for the first year. The principal of the school, Biserka Jovic, is also engaged in that, and I am immensely grateful to her for her support. It is important for me to go, as I believe that after a while I could work there in parallel and provide the rest of the money myself. I do not lack courage in any case, that is how I go through life, I have the guts to do something and just do it," Teodora said.  

She underscored that she owed special gratitude to the activist Marija Ratkovic from Sabac, who helped her a lot with applying to "Sciences Po", and to her friends from Serbia, as well as to those from the US, whom she gained during the student exchange.

“They believed in me when I did not”, Teodora said.    

Source: Bujanovac News and Coordination Body