Edina SELIMOVIC | My International Student-Athlete Experience

Edina SELIMOVIC | My International Student-Athlete Experience 

“I did NOT regret 0.1% for my decision to come here! It’s a one life opportunity and one life journey! ”

— Edina S. (Bosnian Volleyball Student-Athlete)

First, a little background on you and the school...

• Your full name:
  Edina Selimovic


• Your country of origin?
  Bosnia


• Your last team in your home country before attending school internationally?
  ...


• Name of your college/university?
  University of Arkansas at Little Rock


• This school is in...
  USA


• ...your sport?
  Volleyball, 


• ..your jersey # ?
  4


• ...received a scholarship?
  Full Athletic


• ...enter your major(s):
  International Business


• ...select your status in school:
  Senior


• Lastly, please enter your PERSONAL profile link from your school’s website:
  http://lrtrojans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2217&path=wvball


 

Tell your experience BEFORE you got to your foreign school...

• ...choose any of the following that helped you in your process of deciding/getting to a foreign school:
  Parents, 


• ...how difficult was it to decide to go to a foreign school (0-10 being the most)?
  8


• ... If you knew what you know NOW... how difficult would it have been to decide to go to a foreign school (0-10 being the most)??
  0


• What were the main things that convinced you to choose to go to a foreign school? :)
  The main four things that made me to come in US are: to play volleyball of course, to get a college degree, to learn how to speak English, and new experience! 


• ...What, if any, were the difficulties in choosing to go to a foreign school?
  Being far from my family...


• ... and how did you overcome these obstacles to get to a foreign school?
  Easy... just put on the piece of paper what would I gain and what would I lose by coming here... My gains won, and my decision was obvious! 


• ... how helpful were the staff at the school with getting you admitted (0-10 being the most)?
  10


• What things  helped you get everything done to get to a foreign school?
  Coaches from the University helped me a lot, and foreign student-athletes !


• 
  

Lastly, your experience at your foreign school...

• ...your happiness with international student-athletics?
  10


• ...What, if any, were the difficulties to adjust to life in your school’s country?
  Whenever I first came here I couldn't speak English that well so that was basically the most difficult for me, and I would say "adjusting to food"


• ... and how did you overcome these obstacles to adjust to school life?
  By studying more and more every day, talking to people and meeting new friends! By realizing it was easier and easier every day...


• ...What were your best experiences in your foreign school?
  Seeing all these big beautiful Gyms...visiting a lot of different states...different program of practices and workouts...how much you can be appreciated only if you work hard and share your positivism....meeting families and friends that will stay forever in my life...coaching little girls (11's,12's,13's)...tasting the best deserts in the world...making 2nd round of NCAA last year...visiting my family in California two years in a row...much more...


• Anything else you’d like to mention?
  I did NOT regret 0.1% for my decision to come here! It's a one life opportunity and one life journey! 


• Would you be interested in an international athlete network? Yes


• Do you plan to be a PRO in your sport after college? Yes

Tea JURIC | My International Student-Athlete Experience

Tea JURIC | My International Student-Athlete Experience

Tea JURIC | Croatian Volleyball Student-Athlete

“My best experiences in your foreign school?
Learning the language, meeting people and playing sport with all the advantages including gyms, lifting rooms and equipment ”

— Tea JURIC | Croatian Volleyball Student-Athlete

First, a little background on you and the school...

Your full name:
Tea Juric

Your country of origin?
Croatia 

Name of your college/university?
Tulane University 

This school is in...
USA

...your sport?
Volleyball, 

..your jersey # ?
11

...received a scholarship?
Full Athletic

...enter your major(s):
Public Health 

...select your status in school:
Junior

My school profile:
http://www.tulanegreenwave.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/tea_juric_847378.html

View fullsize

Tell your experience BEFORE you got to your foreign school...

...how difficult was it to decide to go to a foreign school?
8

...What, if any, were the difficulties in choosing to go to a foreign school?
Paperwork and not knowing English 

... and how did you overcome these obstacles to get to a foreign school?
Talking with coaches and having them on my side to help me 

... how helpful were the staff at the school with getting you admitted?
8

What things  helped you get everything done to get to a foreign school?
Sinisa Momic

Lastly, your experience at your foreign school...

...your happiness with international student-athletics?
8

...What, if any, were the difficulties to adjust to life in your school’s country?
Different culture and busy schedule 

... and how did you overcome these obstacles to adjust to school life?
With tutor help and hard work

...What were your best experiences in your foreign school?
Learning the language, meeting people and playing sport with all the advantages including gyms, lifting rooms and equipment 

Would you be interested in an international athlete network?
Yes!

Do you plan to be a PRO in your sport after college?
Yes!

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13 | The Only Way To Make Yourself Happy with Ning "Nikki" Zhao

Listen to the FULL EPISODE NOW (32m:19s)

Ning Zhao doesn't mess around when it comes to strangers approaching her online but after a thorough background check on who I am (Ryan Jay Owens) with her former NCAA D1 coach, Chris POOLE, and a big thumbs up that I was not some crazy person she agreed to this interview with a lot of excitement!

She's been waiting a long time to tell someone her story to hopefully inspire other athletes to be goal oriented and not just think sports can offer them everything. Sometimes you must also drastically change your surroundings, like she did moving from China as an 18 year old to the USA, to play at a strong school so her education would be strong as well as volleyball.

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BIO

Ning Zhao or "NIkki" as many refer to her was born Aug 20, 1976 in Beijing, China. 
She started to play volleyball as a nine (9) year old (!!!!)...

She made the Chinese junior national team which was only 12 of the best young players in China (1.39 Billion people populate China! 4x more than the USA) before quickly deciding at 18 years old to not pursue the Olympics...

She decided to pursue making sure her future after volleyball would be happy, healthy and full of opportunity and accepted a full scholarship to study & play in the USA.

She started at Central Connecticut State university but quickly changed to Barton Community College for 2 years where she was a 2x All American. In her final 2 years of school at U of Arkansas -Fayetteville they were ranked 15th & 8th in the nation as a team.. making the Sweet 16 the 2nd Round of the NCAA tournament.

She was ranked the 9th best setter in NCAA D1 volleyball her senior year & is one of only 3 players to hold the record of 3000 assists. She was honored with SEC 1st Team & AVCA All American,

Now she's "a full time mommy" of a 9yr old boy and 2year old daughter after benign off and on assistant coach for a few years after her collegiate volleyball career. She plans on possibly coaching in the future and/or assisting young Chinese players to get to USA schools to play sports.

LEAVE A REVIEW & Subscribe to #BeyondAthletic in iTunes so other can find us too! Share this with one person you think could benefit the most...

Listen to the FULL EPISODE NOW (32m:19s)

Most Grateful For:

The chance to study & play in the USA!

Personal Motto:

"Smile! I don't own all the problems in the world!"
Read: The 7 Rules Of Life

Most Influential Person In Her Life: 

Former Syracuse Coach Jing Ju. He scouted & brought her to the USA but left her 3 months later to switch schools... "Without him I wouldn't be the strong person I am today!"

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her story and how she got into sports?
• Who is she today after her volleyball career?
• What was her biggest failure?
• Why was it important that she go to a school in the USA?
• What's her proudest moment?
• What are her future goals?
• What was the moment she decided to study in the USA?
• How does she add value to people?
• What's her next goal?

Key Lessons:

• She must think about her future

"What am I going to do after I retire from volleyball? We needed to get some education...I needed other life skills other than volleyball."

• Studying and playing volleyball in the USA is a huge opportunity.

"I saw the opportunities getting a good education besides volleyball... so I decided to come."

• How graduating from a USA college is why she is a happily married mother of two.
• Failing can make you stronger.

"First you have to have a strong mind. You have to believe in yourself and be strong. I don't need (the coach). I don't need anyone (to do it for me)."

"Just believe in yourself and there's always nice people around you."

• Do what you love on a daily basis to be happy

"Cooking is AWESOME but so is volleyball!"

• She is interested in coaching and also helping young players come the study & play in the USA.
• Some little things can make people feel much better
• She should be more goal oriented.

Listen to the FULL EPISODE NOW (32m:19s)

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

Sleep & Morning ritual: 
Drinking a glass of water every morning & SMILE!

One personal habit to contributes to athlete's health:
Cooking and playing volleyball

Athlete's Learning Resource:
Pinterest

Most grateful for:
The opportunity to study & play for a USA school.

How athlete add's value to others:
Smiling. Tapping them on the shoulder and just giving them a high five when they are stressed.
Believes something little can make someone feel "much better"

Athlete's travel tools:
Phone & Passport

Advice to 16yr old self:
"Be MORE goal oriented!"

---

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to:
Helping young student athletes come to study in the USA

Business/Work:
Full time mom

Past/Current Teams: 
Central Connecticut State University
Barton Community College
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville 

Recommended Guest:
None

Follow Athlete Here:
Facebook | E-mail Ryan | Pinterest

Definition of Beyond Athletic?

"Sports is NOT the only way to make a person happy! You can't play forever, you must find other passions. There's a whole other world besides the sport you're in..." For example "Family.. Cooking.. Traveling..."

LEAVE A 5 STAR REVIEW FOR Ning'S EPISODE ON:
ITUNES
-OR-
OUR SITE
WE WILL TWEET YOUR REVIEW TO THE ATHLETE! @BEYONDATHLETIC

12 | Why You Should Get Out Of Bed To Fail Everyday with Mia JERKOV

Athlete Case Study: Croatian Pro & National Team Volleyball Player 
_________________________________________________

Dec 5, 2014

Listen Now (1h:01m:21s)

Back in 2011 we met in South Korea as players in their V-League. While in Croatia on a mini-vacay with two puppies three young girls & a husband/wife staying in a cute village near Split named the Kaštela's.

She invited me to check out the city a few times during my mnth stay and we got to know eachother a bit better. She got that stern look but she a softie for sure!

Brief Bio 
________

She grew up in Split, Croatia (one of the most beautiful areas of th southern Croatian coast....) as a daughter of a mother whose rules are never broken, a famous basketball player father and two brothers the focus was on being a complete person & well educated. Worked a bit at the family pizzeria as a kid. Learned to respect money and keep herself & her home tidy.

Was a really skinny and weak kid but fast... picked up tennis & swimming.... through constant boring & lonely without friends travel with her parents a change had to made...

A coach wouldn' t stop calling her even though she had reservations and relaly no idea of what volleyball was like...

She had to live 12hrs away from her family to pursue volleyball and that was the toughest decision of her life at 15yrs old.

• Played for Split, Kastela then OK Istarska Banka, Pula Croatia ending in 2nd or 3rd every year for 4 years...
• University in USA @ UC Berkeley for 3 years.
• Russia half season 1st place in championship & cup…& ¼ finals of CL
• A1 Italy a couple seasons.
• UC Berkeley for last year & degree. Couldn’t play… WHY?
• Italy w/ 2nd place in A2 trophy, Korea (picking up a cup title & 2nd place in championship) & Turkey for 2 seasons selected Best Scorer 2x of Turkish league… Now Japan! 
• National team since 1995 w/ Multiple European  & World Championship & World Cup experiences…

Listen Now (1h:01m:21s)

Guest's Quote: 
"Believe in your dreams" -Her Mother

RJO's Quote:
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” -Anatole France

Most Influential Person in Life:  

Mother.. not because she pushed her to reach higher... Mia pushed herself.  It's because she made her have courage to pursue her dreams, so she would always have strength to reach higher and do better. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• WHAT IS MIA JERKOV’S STORY?
• DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CROATIA & USA?
• WHO IS MIA JERKOV TODAY?
• WHAT WAS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM BECOMING A GREAT ATHLETE?
• WHAT WAS AN OBSTACLE IN HER LIFE? 
• WHAT PERSONAL HABITS YOU BELIEVE CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR SUCCESS?
• WHAT WAS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT?
• WHAT YOUR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE…. IN LIFE, BUSINESS AND SPORT?

Listen Now (1h:01m:21s)

THE BEYOND ATHLETIC TIPJAR

✓    How long to do sleep & What’s your morning ritual? 

• 7hrs minimum but tries for 8!
• Brush teeth, coffee, stretch, eat & arrive to training 40 minutes early.

✓    A book or learning resource you love to use to learn new things
Flipboard News App, books & the Bible.

✓    A tool (item/product or action) you love to use to stay healthy or improve yourself in someway:
Foam Roller & Stretching

✓    Something you must take when traveling?

1. travel roller 
2. laptop /phone
3. books

✓    What book would you give away to an athlete as a gift & why?
Zlatanov Ibrahimovic Biography

✓    A cause or thing/action you like to do to add value to other peoples lives that you either know or dont know at all:
Always be kind & polite regardless of people's behavior. "Can move mountains!"

✓    What advice would you give to your 15 year old self? Your 20 year old self?
15yr: "Have courage & go in direction of your heart!"
20yr: "Have confidence!"

✓    Your social media accounts @username on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc) 
Twitter:  @miaj55 | Instagram: @miaj5 | Facebook: Mia Jerkov

Definition of Beyond Athletic?

"Day by Day be a better person & athlete while maintaining moral values... Build something of quality and maintain it!"

“People who put excellence in the first place have the patience to end up with success. An additional burden for the victim of the success mentality is that he is threatened by the success of others and he resents real excellence. In contrast, the person that is fascinated by quality is excited when he sees it in others.”

— Joe Paterno (Penn St. Nittany Lions Football)