Vanja Stefanovic

From Belgrade to Union: Vanja Stefanovic’s Journey as an International Student-Athlete

When Vanja Stefanovic first stepped onto the volleyball court as an 11-year-old in Belgrade, Serbia, she had no idea the sport would take her across the world. Today, as a senior at Union University, she reflects on a journey filled with change, challenges, and personal growth.

Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, was Vanja’s home for her entire childhood. She grew up in the same apartment, surrounded by family, in a city she describes as “not too much, not too little.” Despite her deep ties to her home, the dream of playing volleyball in the United States took root early.

“I always wanted to come to the States. I don't know why, maybe I watched too many American movies and thought, ‘Wow this is awesome,” Vanja recalls. “I didn’t think it was possible until my freshman year of high school when my club coach changed. He worked for an agency that recruited kids, and that’s when I knew—it wasn’t a question of if, but where.”

Vanja’s first stop in the U.S. was Garden City Community College in Kansas. A year later, she transferred to a junior college in New York before seeking a four-year university to complete her bachelor’s degree.

Her visit to Union was brief—less than 24 hours—but it left an impression. “It was Union’s Preview Day, and I was in a group with a bunch of high school kids and their parents,” she laughs. “Every time I introduced myself and said I was from Serbia, people were shocked I was there alone.”

Despite the initial culture shock, Union felt like home. “The campus, the people, the community—it just felt right,” she says. Though adjusting to a team without other international players was difficult at first, she eventually found her place.

From the moment Vanja picked up a volleyball, the sport became central to her life. “I tried everything—soccer, tennis, basketball, even handball—but volleyball just stuck,” she says. By fifth grade, she was playing competitively, and soon, practices and games became her daily routine.

“Volleyball taught me to step out of my comfort zone,” she reflects. “Back home, I was quiet, shy. But moving across the ocean forced me to be independent. My parents say the person who left for the States and the person I am now are completely different.”

Off the court, cultural differences presented their own set of challenges. “In Serbia, people just mind their business. Here, even strangers at Walmart ask how your day is,” she notes. Even simple things, like mealtimes, required adjustment. “At home, dinner is at 9 p.m. My freshman year, we ate at 5. I’d be starving by 11 and end up at Taco Bell or McDonald’s,” she laughs.

Being thousands of miles away from home, Vanja has dealt with intense homesickness—especially during the holidays. “Christmas is on January 7th for us, and here, I’d have class that day. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas, so I would call my family and be on facetime with them for hours,” she says. “Sometimes I like to go through my pictures which at times has the opposite effect and I get more homesick, but it does bring me a lot of comfort.” To cope, she calls her family, though the seven-hour time difference makes it tricky. 

Her best friend and teammate, Hope, became a crucial part of her support system. “She’s from Washington, so home isn’t close for her either. She helped me so much when I first got here,” Vanja says. “My teammates, the staff at Union—once I found my people, everything got easier.”

Looking ahead, Vanja is preparing for the next chapter of her life in Italy. She has applied to master’s programs in Milan, Rome, and Venice, where she hopes to study marketing and media communications. While she is still awaiting final acceptance decisions, she plans to spend the next two years in Italy, exploring both academics and new life experiences.

When it comes to volleyball, she remains undecided. “Italy is well known for volleyball, and there are a lot of opportunities there, but I recently had surgery, so I’m still recovering,” she explains. “I love volleyball—I could play for another ten years—but for some reason, I want to experience one year of just being a regular student and enjoying life without everything revolving around the sport.”

Beyond school, Vanja is embracing the uncertainty of the future. “Ever since I came to the States and changed schools three times in three years, I realized I can’t settle down—not right now. I have this urge to go, to be, to live in different places. That will help me figure out where I want to settle down one day.”

As she looks toward a career, she sees herself gravitating toward marketing, social media, and brand management but is also open to staying in sports management. “That’s a big reason I’m going to grad school—to figure out what I really want to do.”

From Belgrade to Jackson, Tennessee, and now to Italy, Vanja Stefanovic’s journey is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the power of finding home—no matter how far from home you really are.