Today is Earth Day! We’re celebrating by introducing you to Maja Osmanagić, program lead of academic programs and initiatives for the Sustainability Council. Spend a few minutes getting to know her a little better.
What is your first U of A memory?
My first U of A memory as an undergraduate student was walking into the beautifully rustic old Arts building with the climbing, colourful, fall vines. I was a romance languages major in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies and that building was my home. My first staff memory was the Sustainability Awareness Week kick-off event in the Quad. I was hired in October 2014, close to SAW delivery — it was a memorable, high-energy, exciting event to engage the campus community in our week of sustainability-focused events!
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
For varying periods of time, I have had the pleasure of living in the following cities/towns: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Pula, Croatia; Novigrad/Mareda, Croatia; Lille, France; La Paz, Bolivia; Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City and Ottawa.
What’s your favourite distraction?
One of my favourite distractions is tending to my plants — six of them, small and big — watching them grow, re-planting, watering and giving them some care and attention. This involves examining them close up to make sure they are doing well.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
Sustainability is a passion of mine. I would enroll in a sustainability or sustainable development graduate program. It would be ideal to also be able to focus on environmental sciences (within that same graduate program). I have an MA in International Affairs and this graduate program would complement my current MA nicely. And it aligns perfectly with my passions.
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
A strange pet peeve I have is arriving at my parents’ house and finding the door locked when they are expecting me. By the time I dig out the correct key and open the finicky lock my frustration mounts. We joke because when we are in touch over text they know they need to run and open the door! Lol.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
I would invite Deepak Chopra, Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thích Nhất Hạnh (if I can pick three at the same time!). Over these last few years I have been learning more about mindfulness and all forms of meditation so I would love to speak with great minds/spirits like theirs and hear them share some of their wisdom.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I have always wondered what it would be like to see a ballet performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow — or any contemporary dance performance. I would see that any and every day!
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
To enjoy every moment fully and deeply. Enjoy every event, plan and lesson. Fully enjoy the company of significant others, family and friends. And overall, spend less time worrying, obsessing and focusing on serious things. Be young, goofy and silly!
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
I CANNOT live without my little notepad that has a pen attached to it. It’s nice to have when inspiration strikes for poetry or I need to check off groceries that I bought or when I need to jot down measurements. It’s a must-have for me!
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Enriching. Inspirational. Growth-filled.
