Ambition is the path to success, and persistence is the vehicle that gets you there—these are the words of Bradley that implicitly reveal ambition and persistence as the keys to every success. Ambition is necessary to start something, while persistence, hard work, and effort are needed to finish what we started. This principle forms the foundation of the Hastor Foundation, and the “Scholarship recipient of the Month” section speaks about such scholars—ambitious, diligent, and persistent individuals. This time, the spotlight is on one such scholar who embodies these qualities.
Her name is Amina Basarik. She lives in Lješevo, a small and beautiful place near Ilijaš. She completed high school in Visoko and is currently a fourth-year student at the International Burch University, majoring in Graphic Design and Multimedia. Amina has been a Hastor Foundation scholarship recipient for four years, during which she has gained friends and mentors from whom she has learned a great deal, as well as students to whom she has tried to impart her knowledge in every way possible.
Before starting her studies, Amina already had significant experience in the field of design. Once she became a student in that field, she decided to implement her skills through volunteering, joining the graphic design team of the Hastor Foundation. Her main qualities are diligence and responsibility, which she demonstrated consistently in all tasks assigned to her as a member of that team.
She had the opportunity to design newsletters for the Hastor Foundation, which are published in three languages, and she completed all tasks in record time. Additionally, she volunteered in the Foundation’s office, handling administrative duties and cherishing fond memories from that experience. It is precisely these activities, her diligence, dedication to the volunteer team at the Hastor Foundation, and her sense of responsibility, that have chosen Amina for this month’s rubric.
Her path was filled with challenges, but the ambition she gained from learning from the older scholarship recipients of the Hastor Foundation drove her forward. The Hastor Foundation taught her that giving up is not an option, no matter how difficult it may be.
I would tell young people not to let adversities and difficulties stop them from building their own destiny under any circumstances. From my modest life experience, I have noticed that sometimes adversity and difficulty are better than many good opportunities and ease because they refine you in a way and prepare you for what is to come. So, walk through life fearlessly and decisively.
As she learned to be altruistic regardless of place and time at the Hastor Foundation, during her stay in the student dormitory, she participated in various activities. Wanting to utilize all the good that the Hastor Foundation instilled in her, she gladly shared her knowledge and experience in graphic design with other dorm members and also designed various projects herself. This year, they started the project “Finjak” in the dormitory, for which they created an Instagram profile where they plan to post humorous and informative content about dorm life, students, etc. Students will thus be able to help each other, which is the main idea of the profile. In this project, she was the main graphic designer: she designed the logo, Instagram content, and other materials that could serve everyone in the future. Additionally, she designed posters for various events organized in the dorm multiple times.
She attributes almost all her successes, besides her perseverance and her family’s unwavering support, to the Hastor Foundation and highlights the positive changes in every sense since she became a member of this large family:
The Hastor Foundation has had a tremendous impact on my life, especially during times when support was most needed. Volunteering with the Foundation helped me build self-confidence and overcome my fear of public speaking. Through various activities and volunteering opportunities, the Hastor Foundation became a springboard for many of my achievements and personal growth.
