Former Ranch student finds home in Mostar

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Alisha Erozer traded her choice of a senior prom and an early graduation ceremony that comes with a high school diploma for an extra year in school.

In August, Erozer moved from the comforts of her East County home to a dorm room at United World College of Mostar, in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovinia.

There, she’s enrolled in a two-year international baccalaureate program with other high school students from across the world.

Although Alisha Erozer could have graduated a year early if she’d taken one summer course after her junior year, she now will graduate in 2016.

“I wanted to experience something different and to be put in a situation where I wanted to try a new challenge,” Erozer said. “I didn’t want to graduate early because I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

“I love it there,” Erozer said. “I go to school with people from 42 other countries. We learn in English. I get to proofread a lot of essays.”

Erozer returned home Dec. 17 eager to see friends and family and enjoy familiar comforts, before heading back to Bosnia-Herzegovinia Jan. 7.

But back into the classroom is where she wants to be.

“I have no regrets,” Erozer said of her decision to move.

In the post-war town of Mostar, Erozer gains a unique experience — one in which she sees the struggles of an ethnically divided country, and how progress can literally emerge from ruins.

Learning happens all the time. Erozer’s roommate on campus is from Bosnia, so she helps Erozer learn the language and culture.

And, in the classroom, having students from across the world lends itself to a more well-rounded education. In economics, for example, students learn and share about their own countries and then discuss how their economies impact one another.

“It’s more interesting and I think it’s more effective, too,” she said.

An elected student representative, Erozer also enjoys theater and the debate team, with which she’ll travel to Istanbul later this month to compete.

Her best friend there is from Turkey, the home country of her father.

“When you hang out with your friends, you just learn so much about the world,” Erozer said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

World College student
The United World College program is accepting applications. For information, visit uwc.org.