Personal Narrative: My Anastasija's Life

The first time I met Anastasija was not quite the first time she ‘met’ me. In particular, before starting her high school education at NOVA International Schools, I had heard of Anastasija and her interests through my contact with one of her cousins, Ms. Bela Gligorova, who was my guidance counselor at that time. I was introduced to Anastasija in person in December 2010, right after I finished my college applications. An inquisitive young mind, a polite and thoughtful person, Anastasija’s curiosity and questions about my college application process and my high school accomplishments, struck me as novelty, since Anastasija was only in seventh grade at the time.

Ever since I met her, Anastasija continued to carefully follow my college career at Bard College in New York (electronically)
Whenever I came back to Macedonia, Anastasija never missed a chance to see me and ask me numerous questions about my studies, college life and events. She always listened to all I had to say and I must say that this curious nature of hers along with her ability to sensibly listen is something that distinguishes Anastasija from the rest of her peers.

During her sophomore year of high school, Anastasija wrote to me, informing about her decision to apply for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program. I strongly encouraged her to give it a try. Through various cycles of test examinations and interviews, Anastasija was chosen as one of the few applicants from Macedonia to participate in a year long exchange program, which suggests that Anastasija is capable of distinguishing herself from others and succeeding in her goals. She was very excited when she received and decided to accept this offer to see something new, and learn in a somewhat