US History teacher Brenda Godwin recently exclaimed, "Vuk produces some of the finest work I have seen this year. He is so thorough, so engaged, and works incredibly hard, consistently researching topics we are studying well beyond what we cover in class." A native of Serbia who arrived in the United States for the first time this past fall, Vuk Baletic takes great pride in challenging himself academically, taking two AP classes this year as a junior. "I want to set the bar high for myself. These challenging classes allow me to realize just how hard I need to work to be successful."

 

When asked what his most challenging courses have been while at Proctor, Vuk noted, "I love languages so my British Literature and Spanish classes were natural subjects for me. But, I am also very passionate about math and science and have had the opportunity to take AP Calculus and AP Physics this year, which have been great. They have all been challenging, but at the same time very interesting. As an international student, my teachers have given their all to help me adjust to Proctor effectively, and the one thing that made me happy about the academic experience at Proctor is that teachers always look to help you achieve and exceed your academic potential." In particular, Vuk is thankful for the opportunity to study new topics to which he had never been exposed, "I have had little involvement in US history throughout my years in Europe, so my US History class really helped me expand my views and open a new chapter in my history knowledge.”

 

Despite a challenging course load, Vuk has received much positive feedback for his discipline in and out of the classroom. Laurie Zimmerman recently wrote the following comment, "Vuk is a star in British Literature.  He presents a wonderful example to the others of excellence in English." He gives credit to his successes in the classroom to his love of languages. "My only exposure to English prior to coming to Proctor came through my middle and high school and through many conversations with my cousin, Marko Radovic who graduated from Proctor in 2008. I also learned much by reading books printed in English. That background along with my interest in meeting new people in new places allowed me to have a fairly easy transition to Proctor even though it was my first time away from family and friends in Serbia."

 

While Vuk is proud of his academic accomplishments this year, he also knows he still has room to grow. His AP Physics teacher, Buz Morison, recognized this potential for growth in a recent comment, "Vuk must continue to develop a habit of reflection, consolidation, and summarizing his understanding.  This kind of studying is not necessarily in his repertoire, but needs to be as he moves on to more difficult courses."  As he works hard to prepare for his two AP exams in the beginning of May and looks to use the remainder of this year and next improving his areas of weakness as a student, Vuk has set a very clear goal for himself, "I want to move on from Proctor to a highly competitive college where I can represent Proctor well academically and athletically."