The Record-Breaker
Student-athlete Jana Ciric 鶹ý20 has cultivated quite the broad range of interests and accomplishments. She鶹ýs an active member of Pace鶹ýs swimming and diving team, as well as a computer science major with a passion for mathematics and programming. That was what initially drew her to Seidenberg. 鶹ýI have been really influenced by the positive effect technology has had on humanity in the recent years,鶹ý she told us. 鶹ýWhen it came to making a decision about what I [would] be majoring in, I knew I wanted to be a part of [that].鶹ý
On the athletics side, Ciric is in it to win it鶹ýliterally. She鶹ýs earned the Northeast-10 Conference Women鶹ýs Swimming and Diving Sport Excellence Award two years running, and she broke six鶹ýcount 鶹ýem, six!鶹ýof Pace鶹ýs swimming records. 鶹ýEver since I was a little kid, I loved being in the water,鶹ý Ciric explained. 鶹ýThanks to swimming, I met my best friends, visited many different places, and even came to the US. These reasons always remind me why I love being a swimmer and why I am always grateful to have chosen this sport. It has presented me with many great opportunities and taught me many valuable skills like time management, incredible work ethic, determination, and perseverance.鶹ý Ciric鶹ýs family, she says, who live 5,000 miles away in Niš, Serbia, 鶹ýare always cheering me on and following all of my meets.鶹ý
As an international student, Ciric has cultivated a broad perspective that鶹ýs only strengthened by her impressive professional background. She鶹ýs interned at a number of different industries in a variety of different locations; from a mobile app developer in Serbia to a financial firm in Connecticut to working with EDI (electronic data interchange) in nearby Purchase, NY. Not to mention the fact that she鶹ýs also an intern at Seidenberg, as well as a tutor at Pace鶹ýs Learning Assistance Center. 鶹ýAll of these experiences taught me different skills, embedded different values within me, and made me grow as a person,鶹ý Ciric explained.
She had some important advice for anyone looking to land a new opportunity, too. 鶹ýTake on challenges. If I hadn鶹ýt gone out of my comfort zone and accepted that first internship, I am not sure I would have had two more after that.鶹ý Hear, hear!
In her work as a mathematics tutor, Ciric has shown a demonstrated interest in teaching鶹ýsomething that started at home. 鶹ýBoth of my parents are professors, so I guess [that] passion for teaching runs in my family. I love helping out other people and tutoring enables me to do that.鶹ý Her approach to assisting her peers with their work is a seemingly simple one, and yet, can be applied to any leadership role. 鶹ýIn order to adjust to the learning abilities of each student, I first try to get to know [them],鶹ý Ciric told us. 鶹ýDuring the session, I like to create a motivating environment for learning and to be flexible. These strategies assist me and the student [in] having a great, mutually beneficial relationship! They also enable students to become independent learners.鶹ý
When asked about what fun facts most people might not know about her, Ciric said she writes her signature using the Cyrillic alphabet and, like all of us, is an avid binge-watcher. 鶹ýI have [seen] The Officeseven times,鶹ý she explained. Big mood tho.
It鶹ýs clear Ciric鶹ýs dedication and passion for so many subject areas will serve her well in the future. We鶹ýre excited to hear about all the records she continues to break!