For many students, packing up a suitcase filled with a lifetime of memories and
moving across the world seems like a dream. In 2002, however, for Jovana Nadaški it
became a reality.

At 16, she remembers leaving her home of Novi Sad, Serbia, and listening to DJ
Tim Deluxe’s “Kiss My Eyes” on the radio.

“That song signifies the end of my old life, and the beginning of a new one for
me,” said Nadaški.

Her travels include visits to more than 24 countries, but she always dreamed of going to school in America. After attending high school in El Paso, her love of travel brought her to the Alamo City, a place that held a sense of nostalgia for the future captain of the volleyball team.

“When I first came here my junior year on a dance trip, I fell in love with the
River Walk. It somehow reminded me of home,” she continued.

After receiving a scholarship to attend Our Lady of the Lake, the former jazz
dancer of 12 years decided to “let go of what (she) had before” and allow spirituality and
music to help her overcome conflicts in her personal life, including homesickness.
Upon enrollment, she embraced her calling. Her experiences during the 1992 and 1999 bombings in Bosnia and Croatia made her want to pursue journalism.

“I would walk down the streets and all of a sudden all these people would get bombed. So many bodies…all that blood — and none of it was being covered in the news,” Nadaski said.
From then on, her goal would be to show “real” aspects of the world and go after stories that haven’t been reported.

“I plan to move to New York and continue my studies there. I just want to make people aware and impact their lives,” she said.