Bosnian-born Andrea Verkic is not your typical high school student. She speaks three languages, is a model and has aspirations to become a judge.
The second-place young writers winner from Murray High School had 24 hours from the time she found out about the writing contest until the time she had to submit her piece. But that didn't matter to her because she had something to say, and she took advantage of the opportunity.
Verkic, 17, was 6 years old when her family left Bosnia and moved to Germany to escape war. Then at 11 years old Verkic was uprooted again when her family sold virtually everything they owned, left family and loved ones and moved to America. It was a new start for her with the challenge of learning a new language in a new culture.
Now seven years later Verkic is a hard-working student who is active in Future Business Leaders of America, a writer for her school newspaper and has been awarded Junior Achievement honors. She has high hopes for her future, wanting to pursue international business and law.
"My mom is a lawyer and my father was in economics so it is somewhat of a mix of them," said Verkic.
Her second-place prize money of $500 will probably go toward paying off her first car, but she said she just appreciated the opportunity to write about her experiences and honor her father.
"When my mom read it she cried," said Verkic. "I don't express myself a lot so when I get a chance to do something like this it comes out pretty strong."