Interview with Alem Hadžić
Ajla Dizdarevic
Alem Hadžić is a student athlete at Middlebury College, where he is studying molecular biology and biochemistry. He is on the pre-med track. During his time at Middlebury, Alem has been chosen as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar, presented research at the 2024 Middlebury Student Spring Symposium, and interned at Northwestern University, where he researched pediatric leukemia through the Diversity in Cancer Research initiative. Alem received a 2024 BAPA scholarship and attended the 2024 Annual Forum in Detroit, Michigan.
How did you find out about BAPA and its scholarship offerings?
While searching for Bosnian networking events in the United States, I discovered BAPA’s website. I’m a college student who wants to network with professionals in the community, so I immediately became interested in BAPA’s mission and saw the scholarship as a wonderful opportunity to receive support while positively representing my community.
How has BAPA's scholarship supported you?
I am a first-generation college student who is financially responsible for all of my educational expenses. As a result, I sometimes struggle to strike a balance between being a student athlete, working on-campus jobs, and performing well academically. The BAPA scholarship has covered educational expenses for me, which gives me the time to better balance all of my responsibilities.
What was your experience like at BAPA's 2024 Annual Forum?
At the forum, I learned the importance of mentorship and networking. As a pre-med student, I really enjoyed connecting with Bosnian American professionals in healthcare; they gave me valuable advice. Additionally, meeting with professionals from other disciplines taught me other important lessons that I can apply to my future career in medicine.
My presentation at the forum focused on the role of the maple plant in Bosnian health practices and traditional medicine. Presenting at the forum encouraged me to work on my presentation skills, especially when it comes to presenting research that I do at Middlebury. Additionally, BAPA did an amazing job assisting me in the creation of my presentation. They were very supportive early on as I decided on my topic. Later on in the process, members of BAPA checked in with me, wanting to know how my project was coming along and giving feedback. Constant support by the members of BAPA helped me confidently create my research project, allowing me to effectively present at the forum.
How has your experience with BAPA developed your academic and/or career goals?
My BAPA experience made it clear to me that I can achieve my goals. Students with backgrounds similar to mine can often feel discouraged and struggle to reach their ultimate potential due to financial constraints or a lack of role models to look up to. Meeting successful Bosnian professionals has shown me the possibility of reaching my academic and career goals.
What advice do you have for other Bosnian students who are interested in applying for the scholarship?
I advise other Bosnian students applying for the scholarship to highlight what makes them special. The diverse career trajectories of scholarship winners this year shows how BAPA appreciates the success of students across a wide range of disciplines. Students should try to demonstrate what makes them special by highlighting unique experiences. I also recommend that scholarship applicants emphasize their desire to involve themselves in Bosnian American professional communities.
