April 8, 2009

By Michael Holt, USC Media Relations Student Assistant

The transition from high school to college is one that takes some getting used to, but when added to the stress of moving to a new country, quite a challenging circumstance has been created.

Freshman Dijana Stojic made the decision to come to the University of South Carolina knowing that she would be leaving her home in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She knew the challenges that she would face during this transition, but she has proven ready and qualified to face them.

Since becoming a Gamecock, Stojic has already noticed many differences from the tennis she was used to playing during her days as a junior.

“Here, tennis is on a much higher level and you have to be ready to give more than 100 percent. Every girl is so good,” Stojic said. “They give 200 percent on the court and never give up, but in high school girls would give up.”

The challenges that come with being a student-athlete in a new country are not strictly physical but mental as well. Seeing one’s family and friends in the stands cheering always brings a sense of confidence. Stojic almost always had her father or her friends supporting her in Europe.

“I miss my family because in Europe, I was close to home,” Stojic said. “And here, I am so far away; I miss their support. Every time I would travel, it would be with my father or my friends.”

Now that she is away from home, she had to find a new support structure and has now has solidified one.

Teammates Ana Marija Zubori, Natasa Vuckovic, and Miljana Jocic have become that new support system for Stojic. Culture differences can always be challenging, so when one finds people who understand him/her and can help him/her adjust, turning to those people in times of need can be beneficial. With all three of them hailing from the former Yugoslavia, like Stojic, these women have made the whole move a lot easier for her, allowing Stojic to focus on her tennis.

“I like South Carolina,” Stojic said. “It’s different from other colleges because there are many girls from my country here. When you have someone from your country here with you, it makes it easier dealing with the language.”

Stojic has accomplished many things in her recent tennis career after playing Fed Cup for several years for her home country as a junior. She was just named the SEC Freshman of the Week, a significant achievement given all but one team in the league is currently ranked in the nation’s top 40. Stojic also has earned a win over a nationally ranked player this spring and currently won six straight matches, four of which have come in SEC play.

Facing these kinds of challenges has made Stojic the great athlete she is, and being only a freshman, there is no doubt she will continue growing and learning.