Scholar Success Story: Anastasija Sterjeva – Where Science, Music, and Creativity Meet

Through the Support Fund for Talented High School Students “Talents Today - Leaders Tomorrow,” Macedonia2025 supports young individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent, dedication, and a commitment to personal and academic growth.

One of these inspiring scholars is Anastasija Sterjeva, a third-year student at SOU Gymnasium “Josip Broz Tito” in Bitola. Known for her communicative, empathetic, and creative character, Anastasija successfully combines academic excellence with a diverse range of interests spanning science, music, languages, technology, and community engagement.

Curious about the world around her and eager to learn from different cultures, Anastasija has participated in three Erasmus+ international student exchanges with peers from France, Italy, and Germany, gaining valuable experiences, friendships, and intercultural understanding. In addition to her native language, she studies English and French and independently learns Italian, allowing her to connect with people from different backgrounds and broaden her horizons.

Excellence Across Multiple Disciplines

One of Anastasija’s most remarkable qualities is her ability to excel across a wide range of disciplines. Throughout the years, she has successfully combined her passion for science, languages, music, and technology, demonstrating exceptional versatility and a genuine commitment to learning.

Her achievements span numerous national and international competitions in biology, physics, mathematics, French language, geography, music, and innovation. Among her most notable accomplishments are winning an International First Prize in Solo Singing, earning a Second National Prize in Biology, and receiving a Third National Prize in Physics, placing her among the country’s most promising young talents. She has also achieved excellent results in French language competitions and was invited to participate in the selection rounds for both the Balkan Physics Olympiad (2024) and the Biology Olympiad (2026).

During the 2025/2026 academic year, Anastasija continued to build on this impressive record of success. She won First Prize at the Municipal Physics Competition, received recognition at both the regional and national levels, and ranked among the top students in the country, finishing 14th nationally in Physics. Her outstanding performance led to an invitation to participate in the selection process for the International Physics Olympiad, held this year in Colombia.

Her success extended to Biology, where she achieved First Prize at the Municipal Competition, First Prize at the Regional Competition, and Second Prize at the National Biology Competition, confirming her strong analytical skills and scientific knowledge.

Beyond science, Anastasija demonstrated her creativity and innovation through participation in the national “RazIgra” Game Development Competition. Together with her team, she developed an original game within just 48 hours and won First Place, despite competing against participants with significantly more programming experience. Additionally, she received Third Place as Best Individual Participant among more than 50 competitors, highlighting her adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

Music as a Creative Outlet

Music has always been one of Anastasija’s greatest passions. Having completed her elementary music education, she remains actively involved in the Bitvox Choir and her school’s bands, while also composing original songs inspired by everyday life and personal experiences.

One of her proudest achievements this year was performing an original song at the Vocal Workshop Concert organized by Korunovska Music & Singing School. The concert represented the culmination of months of vocal training. It was a significant personal milestone, as Anastasija successfully overcame stage fright while opening the entire event as the first performer. See her on the following link: Haunt me - Anastasija Sterjeva (live)

Her performance later earned international recognition at the E-Fest International Solo Singing Competition in Bulgaria, where she won the Highest Second Prize and received a Special Award from the organizers.

Her musical journey continued with performances at numerous cultural and educational events throughout the year, including the celebration of 20 Years of Francophone Education at her school, the school's Patron Day Celebration, the Open Day Event, and performances at the Technical Faculty in Bitola.

Another major success came when she won First Place at the National French Language Competition for Individual Francophone Song Performance, earning a student educational trip to Paris, France. This achievement beautifully combined her love for music and languages while opening the door to an unforgettable international experience.

International Experiences and Community Engagement

Anastasija's participation in multiple Erasmus+ exchanges has helped her develop a broader worldview and strengthen her communication skills. Through these experiences, she collaborated with students from different countries, explored new cultures, and built friendships that continue beyond the projects themselves.

Beyond academics and music, she is actively involved in volunteering and community initiatives. She values opportunities to contribute to meaningful causes and believes that social engagement is an important part of personal growth and responsible citizenship.

Academic Excellence and Recognition

Throughout the academic year, Anastasija maintained exceptional academic performance and completed the year with a perfect 5.00 GPA. Her dedication and achievements were recognized during her school's Patron Day celebration, where she received four separate diplomas and awards for her accomplishments during the school year.

These recognitions reflect not only her academic abilities but also her commitment to continuous learning, self-improvement, and excellence in every area she pursues.

Mentorship and Personal Growth

As part of the Macedonia2025 scholarship program, Anastasija actively participated in the mentorship component of the initiative. Reflecting on her experience, she shared: “I believe that the mentorship program provided excellent support for many students. Personally, thanks to my mentor, I established contacts with people who study at the university I hope to attend and who share similar interests with me.”

Through mentorship, she gained valuable insights into future educational opportunities, connected with like-minded individuals, and received guidance that helped her further clarify her academic and professional aspirations.

Looking Toward the Future

Looking toward the future, Anastasija hopes to continue developing her talents across multiple fields while pursuing higher education that will allow her to combine her interests in science, languages, technology, and music. Her experiences in STEM competitions, international exchanges, music performances, and community engagement have helped shape a well-rounded perspective and a strong sense of purpose.

With her curiosity, determination, creativity, and passion for learning, Anastasija is building a future full of possibilities. She embodies the spirit of the “Talents Today - Leaders Tomorrow” program - a young person who not only excels academically, but also uses her talents to inspire others, embrace new experiences, and contribute positively to society.

Anastasija’s story is a powerful reminder that true excellence is not limited to a single field - it is found in the courage to explore, create, learn, and inspire.