Zedin Kujovic
Those earning a higher education diploma can reflect on their struggles and efforts to reach their goal. For Zedin Kujovic, of Ada, who will receive his Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University’s Automotive Engineering Technology program in the College of Engineering Technology on Saturday, May 6, there have been many and formidable obstacles, even generational for his family, first presenting themselves half a world away.
“I was born in Cologne, Germany, as my parents had left Yugoslavia to escape the ethnic
war there,” Kujovic said. “My mother is Bosnian, and my father was Serbian. I was
named for my cousin who died in an attack, one of several murders her family had to
endure. I carry his name proudly and am intent on developing my legacy.”
The Kujovics emigrated to the Grand Rapids area when Zedin was eight months old.
“My father would work long shifts to support our family and my mother was always at home with us, which included meeting with agencies and other groups, as my sister and I have disabilities,” he said. “After an assessment showed that I had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and a severe hearing loss, I began school at two years old. I have taken a different path to make my way through life and my education, and I must be honest with myself about that. I feel if we do not share these experiences, how can we hope to get over them? It causes a bit of a culture struggle at home, since my parents’ perspective is to leave certain things unspoken.”
One trait beneficial to Kujovic’s engineering focus became apparent early in his childhood.
“I feel my makeup makes life fascinating, and very enjoyable,” he said. “I would try to disassemble things around our house, whether it was a toy or some more sophisticated item, to see how they worked. My parents felt there were consequences or losses we encountered because of my choices, but I have always wanted to learn and keep learning.”
The Kujovics focused on meeting their obligations and providing opportunities for their children, and Zedin said he could see high and low points over those years.
“We were a one-car family until I was in middle school,” Kujovic said. “I began to read at a functional level in second grade, and really credit paraprofessionals at Ada Elementary, whose assistance allowed me to enter Ready Math. I want to also credit the staff of Shawnee Park Elementary in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, because their dedication in supporting me and emphasizing my achievements gave me confidence to persist when I found less focus and investment in my success.”
While he advanced through Grand Rapids area public school programs, Kujovic developed a mature perspective on relationships as they applied to his family and those of his friends and classmates.
“It was clear to me how hard my parents were working to provide all they could for us and that they wanted my sister and I to understand and appreciate where they had come from,” Kujovic said. “We heard them converse in their native language throughout our childhood. Since I had a diverse background, it helped me to understand everyone comes from a unique place, and the shades of their experience are like colors in a rainbow. Supporting each other is the key, regardless of what has happened in the past, or may take place now. My friends’ diversity helps me to experience what they want out of life and gain from their perspectives.
It comes down to perspective as he added, “I really feel that since we only get one life to live, we should do so fully.”
Kujovic earned his GED while studying at Forest Hills Central and found more acceptance and support while at Grand Rapids Community College before transferring to Ferris.
“I competed in robotics while I was in high school, which meshed well with my interests in the inner workings of machines,” he said. “I was also a big fan of Kinect toys, which fed my creative interests and helped to put me on a path toward automotive products and their engineering.”
Kujovic earned an associate degree in Automotive Technology from Grand Rapids Community College in 2019, and plans to continue on a bachelor’s degree path at Ferris.
“I continued living at home and efficiently gain skills as a technician at GRCC,” Zedin said. “Bill Pink was great for the college, in my estimation, and it excited me to learn in the last year that he was coming to Ferris. I believe he will really help to shape a successful future for the university.”
As Kujovic advanced in his coursework, he could also secure an internship with General Motors in the Summer 2022.
“I was working with engineers at the GM Tech Center in Warren, though it was virtual,” Kujovic said. “One of my proudest accomplishments was working to create training materials for service tool use and system integration engineering. That was beneficial to both GM and Bosch. I also served as a volunteer at the Warren Tech Center open house in mid-July, as GM has Employee Resource Groups and GM Able is focused on creating an inclusive and accessible culture for employees with a disability, as well as their caregivers and allies.”
Kujovic said the internship experience also allowed him to assist disability design engineering projects.
“Creating greater ease for access and vehicle use is an important aspect of this work,” Kujovic said. “I gained confidence in my ability to assist engineers, serving in that gap for collaborative problem solving. Being an intermediary in the relationship between the technical specialists and corporate professionals is interesting and exciting to me, and I believe I can be valuable to the success in such projects in my future roles.”
Coming to completion of his Automotive Engineering Technology degree finds Kujovic managing the completion of a variety of projects and assignments to qualify as a graduate for Spring commencement.
As a 26-year-old with over two decades of ties to the classroom, Kujovic said this final push has been both arduous and memorable.
“I came to understand in my high school and college years that learning any new technology or technique has always been exciting to me,” Kujovic said. “Whether it is a hybrid engine or some other advance, either in project development or service techniques, that area has my full attention. The time I have put in to reach this point has been exhausting.”
As he approaches the end of the term and his time pursuing grades and degrees, Kujovic offers perspective on his journey and what it may provide to other students, facing struggles from disabilities or other personal impacts.
“I was able in the last few years to visit the Mark Twain House in Massachusetts, where there was a sign with a famous Twain saying,” Kujovic said. “It read, ‘Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.’ While that is meant to be funny, it is a valuable point as I look at my life and other people’s. I hope anyone who has a disability understands that their goals are important, and they should be confident in the pursuit and achievement of them. Any student should be afforded all the help that is possible for their success, and they deserve that level of support,” he said.
Kujovic continues to look to the future.
“I really hope to find a situation where I can work and advance what is cutting-edge in the automotive industry, as part of the continual product improvement process,” he said. “That means being a successful professional, so I can give back to my parents for all the sacrifices they made to bring me to this point.”