Grand Valley State University student Almina Kujovic has always existed on the perimeter between two worlds– one Balkan, and one American. A writing major at the University, Kujovic is a first-generation American whose family left Europe to escape war and ruin.

However, leaving wasn’t the only difficulty that she was left to face.

“My mother is Bosnian and my father is Serbian,” Kujovic said. “My parents had to leave everything just to give me and my brother a better opportunity that they couldn’t have. My mom, brother and I are deaf. We all have to wear hearing devices to assist us.”

Growing up in America, Kujovic had to learn new customs, as well as those her parents brought over from the Balkans. According to Kujovic, navigating the two worlds proved difficult, and the process ended up being filled with trial and error.

“There are different customs and languages, such as Bosnian, which my parents speak,” Kujovic said. “However, due to being deaf of hearing, I never learned to speak Bosnian. English was my native language instead.”

While America has offered fresh opportunities for Kujovic and her family, many people have been less than understanding about her background.

“During middle school, I started taking small steps toward my independence well before adulthood,” Kujovic said. “I had to learn to stand up for myself, which is not an easy thing to do.”

By the time she made it to GVSU, by way of Grand Rapids Community College, she was excited to learn and focus on writing. At the same time, Kujovic made sure to seek out the University’s accessibility support resources. This choice is one she recommends to any student with a disability.

“Advocate for yourself,” Kujovic said. “Given that most people have no experience with my disabilities, it’s hard for others to anticipate my needs or challenges, which has led to instances of mental anguish. Since then, I have had to learn to advocate for myself, not just in public spaces, but (at school) and in the workplace as well.”

Even though Kujovic has moved through the University’s writing program like any other student, she’s never let the reality of her condition escape her mind.

“There will be people (that) assume or believe that disabled people cannot contribute to society in any meaningful way,” Kujovic said. “You have to be mentally prepared for any situation because you never know how people will react to your disability.”

Still, Kujovic always felt supported at GVSU, and recommends the University to high schoolers planning their future.

“My favorite part of attending GVSU is how supportive the program and professors are,” Kujovic said. “Whenever I am in doubt, I talk to my advisor and my concerns are addressed. There are great career advisors that can help you get an idea of what career you want, (and how) that relates to your degree.”

There have been many helpful professors along the way who made the college experience that much more meaningful for Kujovic. One figure in particular was Kujovic’s statistics professor, Joshua Daniel.

“He (Daniel) is my favorite professor at GVSU because he helps me understand math in many ways,” Kujovic said. “He also cuts down the fluff and gets straight to the point. If you have a hard time understanding the topic, he will find a different approach to help you learn better, which is a huge difference. Having a professor that cares about their students makes a huge difference in learning.”

Kujovic’s proudest moment of her writing career thus far was composing an essay titled, “The Meaning of Disability as a Whole,” in which she explored the meaning of disability in cultural, social and economic contexts. The paper has encouraged her to keep pushing on, even though it was not without obstacles of its own.

“My teacher was so impressed by the essay that she told me I should submit (it) to a writing contest,” Kujovic said. “I did, and unfortunately, I did not win the contest, but it was still my proudest moment of my writing career.”

As for her future career, Kujovic has taken a personal interest in technical writing. Originally brought to her attention by a friend who suggested she consider the discipline as a viable career path, Kujovic has come to enjoy the focus and simplicity that goes along with explaining concepts, such as through instruction manuals.

“I love learning and breaking down the concepts in a way I can understand,” Kujovic said. “Technical writing teaches me discipline and patience in the process. I used to be overwhelmed with complex topics, but since doing technical writing, it (the discipline) has helped me realize that every new piece of information does not have to be scary. You can break it down and do (it) one step at a time.”

For Kujovic, it was a comforting realization to understand that not all writing had to encompass overly descriptive and flowery prose. When she discovered there’s a whole career field available to writers who use their work in a more literal and practical way, she was totally on board.

“Technical writing does require creativity,” Kujovic said. “It (technical writing) is about how you use creative thinking to communicate information. You do not need to be an expert in everything. What matters is your willingness to learn and be curious about everything.”

The vast diversity of applications for technical writing intrigued her as well. She found that while technical writing made sense to her as a chosen career path, she could also use this new skill to help others make sense of complex ideas.

“It (technical writing) is about how you are willing to use critical, creative thinking (skills), and work with people to produce the best work possible in a way that will benefit not just professionals, but the general public as well,” Kujovic said.

Recently, Kujovic has refined her interests even further, and has begun to focus on scientific topics. A dream of hers would be to combine her major and science into a job where she can utilize technical writing to communicate ideas about scientific topics.

“My dream job would be working in the science field because I would love to work with scientists and be able to share exciting discoveries with the public,” Kujovic said. “For example, with the timely topic of climate change, I want to be part of the process by effectively communicating progress or issues, as well as breaking down complex topics into information that is easily understood by everyone.”

Kujovic’s story has been inspiring to those around her. Her brother, Zedin Kujovic, said her success at GVSU never surprised him, especially since he has watched her constantly overcome any obstacle put in front of her.

“Almina is, at the core of it all, a really honest, smart and an awesome person,” Zedin Kujovic said. “She’s struggled a lot in life, and persevered in many ways. Almina’s biggest strength is (her) ability to become friends with anyone. Another (strength) is definitely her ability to research, prepare and present information, especially in writing.”

There is something to be said for coming out strong on the other side of adversity. For someone like Almina Kujovic, who has had to overcome substantial adversity in a myriad of ways, she now feels stronger than ever.

“The path of obtaining a degree is full of ups and downs,” Almina Kujovic said. “There (are) times when you will be frustrated and question your self-worth, but in the end, it (perseverance) will pay off. Only you can make decisions (about) what you want to do for yourself, (because) no one else (can). After all, only you can make yourself happy. Don’t depend on others to make you happy because it’s not worth (your) mental health to ‘please’ someone.”

Now, Kujovic is looking toward the future. Set to graduate in December, she is looking to continue her story with an organization that values her skills as a writer, and appreciates the hard road that led her to where she is today.