Josif Božović of Barana paid back to those who supported him: In America, he did not forget "Yugoslavia"

Lamb Josif Božović, a twenty-five-year-old who now works as a bioengineering researcher in America, paid back the former schools where he started his journey with an unusual gesture. With his visit and valuable gifts, he returned part of what he received from his female professors - inspiration and support.

Božović graduated in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University in Chicago. He began his education at the Elementary School "Yugoslavia" in Bar, and continued it at the "Niko Rolović" Gymnasium in Bar, where after two grades he received a scholarship for the United World College in Mostar.

Last month, he visited his "first" schools where, as his teachers claim, he left an indelible mark. During that visit, he spoke with the students, and in "Yugoslavia" he also held a lecture.

To my former elementary school biology teacher, Mirjana Vučinić, and biology teacher at the Gymnasium, Jadranka Tršić, donated a laptop computer for the biology cabinet and work with talented students and model molecules.

Professor Tršić told "Vijesta" that although Božović continued his education outside of Montenegro, he never forgot his home school and his professors, whom she says always supported him and gave him additional confidence.

"Even though we know that our students achieve top results with their effort and knowledge, somewhere in the depths of our souls we think that we are also responsible for their success," said Tršić.

He is not only the pride of his family, she thinks, but also the pride of their school and town.

"That's why it was a pleasure and an honor for me to be Josif's professor. I hope that Josif will be an inspiration to young people, to succeed and to get an education", she said.

In addition to Vučinić, the director of the school attended Božović's class from Elementary School "Yugoslavia". Slavica Radević, assistant director Rosa Vlahovic. His visit was a special moment for the students, as he shared the story of his journey from elementary school to a prestigious career abroad.

During the visit, which lasted two school hours, Josif gave a lecture for students, in which he described his educational path in an interesting and accessible way.

He began with his memories of elementary school and emphasized how his basic knowledge, the support of his teachers and the competitions he participated in laid a solid foundation for further success.

He especially emphasized the importance of persistence, curiosity and hard work, which guided him from elementary school until today's research work in biomedical engineering.

"His story caught the attention of the students, who asked numerous questions about his experiences, the challenges he faced, and what it's like to work on solving problems that can improve the health of people around the world," they said.

As they said, Božović expressed special gratitude to his former classmate, Mirjana Vučinić, who in elementary school inspired him to love biology and recognized his talent, taking him to competitions and encouraging his curiosity.

"Josif's visit left a deep impression on everyone present and showed how dedication and hard work can lead to extraordinary results. His success is an inspiration for the current generation of students to believe in themselves, work hard and take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to them", they concluded from Elementary School "Yugoslavia".

Božović's two years at the Gymnasium were marked by numerous awards, including the first place in the state biology competition, the Biology Olympiad, the prize for the student of the generation, and he received the same honor for his primary schooling in "Yugoslavia".

The first trip to the United States was on the occasion of the "Yale Young World Scientists" program with a focus on biological and biomedical sciences. He later received a full scholarship to study biomedical engineering at the prestigious McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University.

He graduated in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University in Chicago.

In parallel with his studies, he worked at the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics under the guidance of the famous professor John Rogers, on projects of the latest generation of biocompatible and biodegradable micro sensors and medical platforms that redefine the approach to diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Also, he was selected for the "Global Health Technologies" project that Northwestern University is implementing with Stellenbosch University near Cape Town, South Africa.