From high school exchange to medical scrubs!
Nikola Brkljac (22) is currently studying at the Medical Faculty of the University of Belgrade. He was born in Pancevo, where he started his music career and made his first steps in the world of youth activism.
"While I was in high school, I had a close friend who received a scholarship that allowed him to go to the U.S. and spend one academic year there," Nikola recalls. Since his friend had a fantastic exchange experience, Nikola began to turn the intrigue he felt into a small "hunt" for information about this program. He learns that this is the Future Leaders Exchange Program (hereinafter FLEX) funded by the United States Department of State and implemented by the United States Embassy and the American Council for International Education.
"I was thrilled when I realized that FLEX is for people my age and that it is completely free!" says Nikola, who seized the first opportunity to apply. Unfortunately, he did not pass the first round of testing, but that did not discourage him. The following year, he tried again - and succeeded! A year in the development of an adolescent is not a short time, so Nikola himself claims that, in the meantime, he realized that it was better that he did not pass when he first applied and that this time he felt much more mature and ready.
He went to Austin, Texas, and spent his year with the Dersch family as the eighth exchange student. His host father is a former Olympic swimmer who won a gold medal at the Games in Barcelona in 1992, while the host mother, Jules, owns a private clinic and works there as an Internal medicine-pediatrics physician. Nikola reports that he had a host sister and a brother, who made the whole experience much easier for him. "I was always interested in medicine, but as I spent more and more time with my host mother, I was becoming sure that medicine is my path," says Nikola.
"Returning to Serbia was bittersweet. The reverse culture shock is real, no matter how unreal and impossible it may sound at first. " Nikola reflects. Shortly after his return, Nikola started preparing for university, became a City Representative for Pancevo, and applied for the IDEAL Workshop organized by the American Council. Inspired by brand-new knowledge and skills, in 2018, he came up with the idea to organize the Opozit party, now well known in Pancevo. Opozit is traditionally held in the Apollo Hall of the Pancevo Cultural Center, and all funds from ticket sales are donated to charity. High school students are always happy to get involved in the action, whether it is playing music, helping with the organization, or installing lighting. "This kind of community spirit is precisely what motivates me to continue volunteering!" - says Nikola with a smile.
In addition to FLEX, Nikola is a member of the non-governmental organization Creative Youth Center of Pancevo for the fight against AIDS (hereinafter KOMPAS). As Nikola reports, KOMPAS is a unique opportunity to combine his love for activism with his profession. Together they conduct peer education programs in primary and secondary schools in Pancevo, where they educate young people on the topics of primary prevention of HIV and other causes of sexually transmitted diseases. Nikola and KOMPAS are supported by the Municipality of Pancevo, the Institute for Public Health, and the Youth Center, and they have established cooperation with professional lecturers, the Red Cross, and FLEX.
"I hope that this part of my story will inspire young people to be more invested in volunteering, youth activism, but above all - to take care of themselves and others!" says Nikola.