My Mission

My name is Zara Sword and I am a senior at the Winsor School in Boston, Massachusetts. I am first generation American, and my mother is a triple immigrant from Bosnia. My mother tongue is Bosnian, and I feel incredibly lucky to have spent my summers with my grandparents in Croatia and Bosnia to immerse myself in my culture and family history.

Original image of Vječnica Museum, now a symbol of cultural richness and resilience following its destruction during the Siege of Sarajevo.

In high school, what often struck me was that few people in my community had heard of the atrocities committed towards Muslim men, women, and children in Bosnia and other regions in ex-Yugoslavia. However, genocide is a part of our human, and not just national, history, and it is vital that these stories are discussed in order to prevent history from repeating itself. It is incredibly painful to watch from afar as modern atrocities devastate entire nations in a merciless cycle of pain and violence.

My mother was a college student when she was forced to flee her home. She later learned how it was occupied, looted, and destroyed by invading forces. Other Bosnian families have similar stories of pain and resilience.

The fact that unfathomable atrocities are still being committed today fuels my desire to contribute to raising awareness by uplifting civilian stories that are most often overlooked or forgotten. It is my personal mission to teach my community about this region of the world and about our international history.

I am determined to pursue a path in science where I can simultaneously advocate for those affected by injustice and contribute to a future where education, collaboration and celebration of diversity replace violence and division. My family’s history of survival and perseverance continues to inspire me to make a difference and stand for justice.

Original image of a rainbow following a torrential rainstorm while on a road trip from Croatia to Sarajevo.