It is not unusual to meet young people with great ambitions in Cetinje. The former capital of Montenegro has always been a city where education was valued and knowledge was considered one of the most important values. However, there are few stories that have shown so clearly in recent years how far work, dedication and the willingness to seize every opportunity can take you, as the story of Luka Perišić.
Although he is only at the beginning of his academic journey, Luka Perišić already represents an example of a new generation of Montenegrin students. A generation that fearlessly competes with the best universities in the world, that competes with peers from much larger and richer countries, and that shows that origin does not have to determine the limits of what is possible.
The young Cetinje native will study at Vanderbilt University in the United States, one of the most prestigious American universities, thanks to a full scholarship worth around $400.000, which covers tuition, accommodation, meals, travel costs and personal expenses.
Luka's story goes from Cetinje, through Norway, to the United States. Perišić's journey shows that the greatest opportunities often arise precisely where there is a willingness to take the first step.
The path to such success did not begin in America or in the world's great centers of education. It began in the classrooms of an elementary school in Cetinje.
"I remember my education in Montenegro as a period during which I had great support from teachers, professors, family, and the local community," says Perišić.
There is no single defining moment in his story that changed everything. Instead, it is a series of experiences that have built up over the years. Elementary School “Njegoš”, then the Cetinje Gymnasium, numerous extracurricular activities, youth programs, and people who encouraged him to develop his interests became the foundations on which he would later build an international academic career.
Organizations such as the American Corner and the Red Cross have played a special role in its development. It is precisely such programs that provide young people with the opportunity to gain additional knowledge, develop communication and organizational skills, and meet peers with similar interests.
“I tried to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way, both through classes and extracurricular activities,” he says.
He considers the broad education he received in the Montenegrin school system to be one of his strengths today. Although he was most attracted to the world of mathematics, physics, and technical sciences, he is convinced that it was the diversity of subjects that helped him develop an interdisciplinary way of thinking.
A turning point in high school
A turning point came during high school, when he was given the opportunity to attend UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway. Thanks to a full scholarship from the Shelby Davis Foundation and the national committee, he found himself among students from around the world gathered in one of the most prestigious international education programs.
For a young man who had spent his life mainly between school, family, and friends in Cetinje, going to Norway represented an encounter with a completely new world.
“For the first time, I lived and learned with people from dozens of different countries, cultures, and life circumstances,” he recalls.
At UWC, he was surrounded every day by young people coming from war-torn areas, countries with completely different political systems, and societies facing challenges that he had previously known about mainly from books or the media.
“When you meet someone whose life is directly shaped by certain social issues, everything becomes much more real,” he says.
This experience changed the way he viewed the world. Diversity was no longer just an idea discussed in civics classes, but an everyday reality.
Along with that experience, he was also introduced to a different educational system. The International Baccalaureate program allowed him to focus more on areas that truly interested him and to develop analytical skills through research and independent projects.
It was then that he began to seriously consider continuing his education abroad.
For many high school students, applying to American universities seems like an almost unattainable goal. The process is long, complex, and requires much more than just good grades. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, but also character, leadership skills, social engagement, and the potential to contribute to the community.
Perišić went through this process during his final years of high school.
Applications involved writing multiple essays, collecting recommendations from professors, documenting extracurricular activities, and presenting personal achievements in detail.
"At universities like Vanderbilt, a large number of applicants have top grades. What often makes the difference is initiative, experience, and community contribution," he explains.
This is why the application process takes months. Candidates don't just send their school results, they try to show universities who they are as a person.
For students from smaller countries like Montenegro, an additional challenge is the fact that they come from a system that American committees are often less familiar with. Therefore, it is necessary to explain in detail the context, achievements, and significance of the activities they have been involved in.
The results arrived after months of work.
In addition to Vanderbilt, Perišić was also accepted to Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, Macalester College, University College London and NYU Abu Dhabi, with extremely generous financial packages.
However, the choice fell on Vanderbilt.
The University of Nashville has been ranked among the best American higher education institutions for years. It is particularly known for its programs in engineering, medicine, economics, and research.
"I got the impression that this is a university that invests a lot in the development of its students, not only academically but also personally," says Perišić.
His choice of study was not accidental. Mechanical engineering has attracted him since childhood.
"I have always been interested in how things work and how complex systems are created from individual components."
He plans to later focus on aerospace engineering, a field that combines mathematics, physics, and technological innovation.
Engineering and Finance
At the same time, he wants to study finance as a minor. This combination is becoming increasingly popular among students who want to combine technical knowledge with an understanding of economic processes.
However, no matter how dedicated he is to his studies and life in America, Perišić does not break his ties with Montenegro. He regularly follows political, social and economic developments and believes that the country has significant potential for development.
His story fits into the broader picture of a generation of young people going abroad for education. In recent years, an increasing number of Montenegrin students have enrolled in prestigious universities across Europe and America. At the same time, the issue of their return is becoming one of the most important development issues for the country.
Perišić believes that most young people do not want to permanently sever ties with their country.
"Many students want to contribute to Montenegro, but at the same time they are looking for an environment in which they can grow professionally."
That is why he believes that the state must continue to develop the economy and create employment opportunities in highly specialized sectors.
Many students today are acquiring knowledge in some of the most in-demand fields in the world, from advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to aerospace and biotechnology. If they want to return, they need to find an environment that can utilize their knowledge.
"Young people want to live in a system in which knowledge, work and results are valued more than personal acquaintances," says Luka Perišić, who sees this as one of the key conditions for the return of educated people.
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is one of the most prestigious private research universities in the United States. It was founded in 1873 in Nashville, Tennessee, thanks to a donation from American industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt, after whom the university is named.
Today, Vanderbilt has more than 13.500 students, of whom about 7.200 are undergraduates. The university is known for its low student-to-faculty ratio (8:1), which allows for intensive work in small groups and close collaboration with faculty.
It is particularly respected for its programs in engineering, medicine, economics, law, and social sciences, while its School of Engineering is considered one of the strongest private engineering schools in the southern United States.
Vanderbilt is among the universities with highly selective admissions and is regularly ranked among the top 20 American universities in relevant national rankings.
Former students and professors include Nobel laureates, American politicians, ambassadors, US Supreme Court justices, successful entrepreneurs and scientists.
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