As a new student at the high school, Benjamin Mahmutovic may not be a familiar name throughout the school, “Benji,” however, is quickly becoming a household name, whether through his involvement in cross country, Art Club, or from his presence around the school.
Mahmutovic is one of the 12 foreign exchange students that have gotten the chance to experience the Northview community this academic year. Mahmutovic has only been in the United States (US) for a month and a half, but he already feels like he’s adapted and has easily fit into his new environment.
“I adjusted almost immediately. I didn’t notice any major changes [in my personality], just the way I approach people,” Mahmutovic said. “I felt like I fit in and didn’t have trouble with [settling in]
Living 4,847 miles away in a different country may be hard due to homesickness, especially for an extended period. Mahmutovic doesn’t want that to affect him; he wants to savor America for as long as he can.
“I don’t miss Montenegro,” Mahmutovic said. “If I’m being completely honest I came here for a reason. I’m only going to be here for nine months. I’m going to miss [the] United States when I go back. I might as well enjoy the moment.”
Mahmutovic has always wanted to go to America. It’s not a new idea of his and has been his dream as soon as he found out he could be a foreign exchange student. He even tried when he was a freshman and finally got accepted as a sophomore.
“I am very grateful [for the opportunity], and I am not over exaggerating when I say that this has been my dream and this has been on my goal list for three years,” Mahutovic said. “[Getting accepted] is a dream come true and getting to be an ambassador for your own countries in another country [there is] a lot of gratitude and a lot of responsibility comes with that.”
While staying in the US, Mahmutovic has gained some new friends. Junior Ashley Hudgens took him under her wing on the first day of school.
“[Mahmutovic] introduced himself, then I started to talk to him after class, asking questions about his country, and we kept talking,” Hudgens said. “The first time I met him, he was already super open and friendly.”
Science teacher John Wojciakoski coached Mahmutovic in cross country and is his anatomy teacher. He gets to spend lots of time with the exchange student in and out of the classroom.
“[Mahmutovic is] very positive,” Wojciakoski said. “He has a good sense of humor and brings that to the classroom and the cross country team. He’s very outgoing, [and] very social in terms of cross country. He’s been [a] great addition and an asset to the team. He works hard [and] at the same time has fun with it.”
Mahmutovic is proud to have Wojciakoski as a teacher.
“I don’t know how [Wojciakoski] manages [everything he does],” Mahmutovic said. “He has such a high level of knowledge. Wojciakoski is my idol here.”
Besides participating in cross country to pass the time, Mahmutovic decided to take his artistic talent in Art Club, and even in anatomy class. Wojciakowski has seen it first-hand.
“[Mahmutovic is] an incredible artist. I know he likes anime-type characters,” Wojciakoski said. “We had an assignment in Anatomy [where] they make a children’s book, and he very much took over on the artistry. He did the illustrations for most of the book.”
Mahmutovic is no stranger to art. For him, it’s a calming medium. He knows he can go straight to a piece of paper and have a new, composed mind. He learned about his talent when he won his first national award at the age of nine. Mahmutovic continued his art path, he won: 2nd place at a regional poem competition, an award for a science project at “Night of Researchers”, 1st place art award at “Refesticon (a regional festival that publishes science fiction stories from students all around the region; it always offers students to participate in making an art piece that resembles the theme for that year) and a national art award for the category “From Heart to Heart.” He even earned his first exhibition two years ago entitled “Abstract Gallery.”
“It’s easier to express everything you have in your mind on a piece of canvas, on a piece of paper with a pen and a brush. You don’t have to explain anything to anybody when you’re doing art,” Mahmutovic said. “I notice whenever I feel stressed, whenever I feel like I’m getting zoned out, I will always just pick up a pen and doodle something. It makes me focused, and it makes me feel relaxed.”
Mahmutovic has become a staple to the Northview community with his glowing personality, his gifted art, and to his caring heart and love for everyone around him.
