All our former scholarship recipients represent a wealth of success, and we always eagerly return to writing about them. Thanks to their paths after education, we aim to inspire our younger scholarship recipients to bravely follow in their footsteps and dream big dreams, striving to achieve them! In this month’s bulletin, we bring you the life story of Sanel Kopić.
In the following article, find out how Sanel’s paths intersected with the paths of the Hastor Foundation, what his volunteer tasks were and how he realized them, and how Sanel became an employee of one of the largest companies in Europe specializing in the production of cooling systems – „Daikin.“
Sanel Kopić was born in Olovo, in the village of Čuništa. He completed elementary school in his hometown, and attended the Economic School in Olovo for high school. After completing high school, he enrolled in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which was not his first choice, but he still chose it, following in his brother’s footsteps. However, looking back over the years, he says he wouldn’t change anything. In this story, the profession found him, and he currently enjoys his professional engagement. Sanel confirmed to us that love fundamentally changes life and makes the world a more beautiful place to live! He became a scholarship recipient of the Hastor Foundation thanks to his girlfriend. Although the period of studying and finding professional engagement was very challenging for both of them, it was just a small test that their love successfully passed, and today they fondly remember those times and the role of the Hastor Foundation in their lives as a married couple.
He always viewed the Foundation primarily as a family that is there to lend a hand in times of trouble, but also to provide an opportunity for him to support younger scholarship recipients through volunteer activities! Financial assistance, like for everyone, greatly eased the process of studying, but that is not the main reason Sanel remembers the Hastor Foundation.
In this month’s newsletter, we bring you the story of the upward trajectory of Sanel’s career. His path was by no means simple, and the journey of professional career growth and development was extremely dynamic and challenging. For several years now, he has been employed at the company “Tehnoelektronik,” which deals with air conditioning, heating, and cooling. The job is tough and stressful, but Sanel feels fulfilled. His first work experience was in a printing house, and after completing his university education, he worked in Tuzla at the „Termoelektrane Tuzla“ plant. Then, an offer came from “Tehnoelektronik,” where Sanel continued to build his business career up to the present day.
Regarding work experience, he believes that it is crucial to demonstrate work abilities or competencies in the workplace. It is something entirely different from what you hoped for. It’s hard to land your dream job, the one you’re satisfied with, if you sit at home and wait for it. You have to start somewhere, and with a clear goal and vision, you can surely reach where you intend to go.
The impact of the Foundation was significant and helped Sanel become what he is today. Volunteer beginnings were undoubtedly very challenging, but everything is much easier when love weaves its threads. He fondly recalls all those challenges, improvisations, and volunteer hours spent with younger scholarship recipients of the Foundation, whom he mentored:
As part of volunteer activities, I went to a village near Zvornik – Tršić, to hold monthly meetings with younger scholarship recipients. The biggest problem was organizing transportation, followed by walking to the village and overnight stays. All of this had to be done with minimal spending, which taught me a lot. Volunteering with younger scholarship recipients of the Hastor Foundation remains in special memory. It was a bit easier when I volunteered in a village near Olovo. I met scholarship recipients at the Foundation with whom I am still in touch, and we fondly recall some events from those times.
Moments that Sanel will forever cherish and one of the most beautiful memories linking him to the Foundation is the time spent with other scholarship recipients while answering letters from students in the Foundation’s offices, organizing social games, outings, and gatherings after meetings. Through volunteer tasks at the Foundation, Sanel acquired new work habits that absolutely helped him stand out in the job market. As Sanel himself says: The market is big enough for everyone. We need to strive to be leaders in our business field. Anyone can be average, but still, we need to keep up with the times and be competitive in larger job markets.” Sanel transferred the work habits from the Hastor Foundation to his business career, built on them, and thus secured a job at “Daikin’.
Sanel revealed to us that the basic recipe for a successful career is communication with others, something he learned a lot about in the Hastor Foundation!
However, in the end, we realize that the most important thing is to learn proper communication with colleagues and clients, and such experience can be gained during any business engagement. Experience in the field you are in naturally comes if you try hard enough.
The message at the end of our alumni of the month is:
From personal experience, I can advise scholarship recipients to take advantage of the opportunity in the Hastor Foundation to gain new experiences and work competencies through the opportunities that the Foundation generously provides, including volunteer engagement, as it will certainly enrich their resume and facilitate finding business engagement. The job market is big enough for everyone, but we must stand out in some way. The Hastor Foundation offers exceptional opportunities to perfect your abilities and easily build your personal and business path.
Prepared by: Hana Kolasević
