2024 Award of Excellence Recipient: Mirela Vujcic
Born in Germany, Mirela Vujcic was six when her parents decided to move back to their small hometown in Croatia to raise their children.
Their lives were irreparably disrupted in the early 1990s, however, when civil war broke out in the country.
“Our happy life in a small town where everyone knew each other was changed overnight,” she says.
Mirela lived in a war zone during her high school years; living on high alert; often going without electricity and running water for weeks. Even in a war zone, however, life carries on.
“When there were no buses to take me to school, I walked or got a ride from someone. I got most of my studying done with a candle. When we had electricity, I fought for the remote control like any other teenager to record what was on MTV (we only had two channels, one with news and one with MTV music occasionally) to make sure I didn’t miss what was new and exciting outside of my small and sometimes sad world,” she says. And as long as there were no conflicts on the weekends, she was allowed to go to a “nightclub” on Saturday nights – essentially an empty barn with a generator.
Unfortunately, Mirela and her family became refugees a month after she graduated. They had 30 minutes to pack.
“We didn’t know at the time that we were leaving forever, and that the house would be in flames the next morning,” she says. “We didn’t bring enough clothes or any photos with us, however I managed to bring my beloved VCR and a few tapes as those were my most precious belongings at that time.”
Now a parent herself, Mirela looks back and appreciates her parents’ positive attitude throughout their traumatizing experiences. “Even though adjustment to a refugee life in Serbia was difficult, my parents encouraged me to start attending a community college in Belgrade as soon as we got there,” she says. “Education was always high on their list of priorities, and they worked long hours at whatever jobs they could get so their kids could have a better life.”
While in her second year of college in Belgrade, Mirela moved to Canada in search of a better life. It was a difficult time, as she had to go without her parents and sister. “My brother worked in a local factory while I attended Mohawk College, and my parents and sister joined us in Canada two years later,” she says.
Mirela was the first post-secondary graduate in her family. Her siblings followed in her footsteps, graduating from Mohawk too.
In 1999, Mirela Vujcic obtained her first job at Mohawk College as a Computer Coach Coordinator in the Human Resources department.
For many years, she worked as an Admissions Advisor, working directly with applicants and students. Many students she worked with over the years have stayed in touch since graduating. “The best reward is seeing them successful in their new careers,” she says.
Since 2021, Mirela has held the position of Registration and Convocation Coordinator. In this role, Mirela looks forward to each Convocation. “Successfully executing 15 convocation ceremonies per year requires months of planning and hard work of a large team, however it is the most rewarding experience,” she says. “Seeing happy graduates and their families and collaborating with staff from my and other departments makes it the best job.”
Mirela’s current job keeps her busy with various projects. “In 2023, I coordinated the release of digital college credentials and President’s Letters in MyCreds and [we] have plans to release additional documents in that platform,” she says.
Outside of work, Mirela is dedicated to her Serbian roots through her church and is a member of her local Serbian Circle of Sisters. “Living in a war zone and being a refugee left a permanent mark on me, and being involved in the Serbian community has helped me ease that pain and bring me closer to what I have lost,” she shares. “It is important to me that my kids have a sense of belonging in both Canadian and Serbian cultures.”
In August, Mirela was honoured with the 2024 Award of Excellence. A recognition that she is extremely grateful for. “It’s an homage to my parents and the lessons they taught me, and hopefully an inspiration to my kids to embrace opportunities and always have a positive attitude,” she says. “I am grateful for a sense of belonging at the college. Every person I have worked with had an impact on me and my career, and I hope that I will continue to have a positive impact on people around me.”