The team “King Petar I Karađorđević,” comprising two students each from “Svetozar Marković” Gymnasium and “Ivan Sarić” Technical School, secured victory in the “Great War – 110 Years Later” quiz. The young four-member team traveled to Corfu, where the final was held. There, they had the opportunity to gain a deeper, firsthand understanding of their country’s and people’s history and connect with their ancestors.
Simply qualifying among the top two teams meant a trip to Corfu and participation in numerous programs within the “Days of Serbianism” event. What began as quiz participation evolved into an incredible experience and an intimate encounter with their own history.
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“It’s simply an unrepeatable feeling; it cannot be described in words until one experiences it. The most emotional moment for me was when we were in Kato Korakiana. The place itself is beautiful, but Dimitrije Stikić’s speech, which pointed out the connection between history and the present, resonated deeply. It seems to me that young people today build a wall between the present and history, as if history is irrelevant to us today. But in fact, when we went there, we saw that without them, our ancestors, we wouldn’t be here today. They showed us what a fight for the homeland it was, and that we are here today thanks to them. History teaches us about ourselves. The struggle for life, for land, for people,” said Aleksandar Samac, a team member and student of “Ivan Sarić” Technical School.
In a time when young people are mostly on their phones, social media, and live for the present moment, these four young individuals taught us a lesson not only in history but also in patriotism, because as Ršum says, “The homeland is defended by beauty, and honor, and knowledge.”
“We won simply by going there. The victory in the quiz final isn’t as valuable as the fact that we went there, learned history more deeply, drew closer to our ancestors, learned who we are, what we are, where we come from. That’s the whole point. When we learn all this from a book, everything’s different. Only when we went there did we see it all with different eyes and experience it more emotionally. Our love for our people, not just mere knowledge, led us there. When we stand on that land and hear the sound of water, when we experience that, it’s actually much different. This time, King Petar I, as our team was called, had a smaller army, but it achieved victory,” said Nevena Maravić, the only girl in the four-member team.
The youngest among them, a first-year student, emphasized that the entire journey was exceptionally emotional for him, confirming the adage that the journey is more important than the destination.
“At the quiz in Subotica, we achieved a convincing victory, and we were very happy because we knew a trip to Corfu awaited us. But when we arrived, a different energy was palpable. It was very emotional. At every program we attended, there was a feeling of closeness, of friendship with the Greek people. I’m glad that Serbia has friends like the Greeks, who helped our nation resurrect. We met a large number of people from across the region,” said Kosta Baćović, to which Professor Jasmina Marić added, “I must say, tears sparkled on these cheeks, and those tears are the heaviest; you know boys don’t cry often.”
Andrej Horvat also confirmed that emotions overwhelmed them upon their arrival in Corfu, emphasizing that we all must know history to understand who stands behind us and which heroes we are descendants of.
Emotional Connections and Historical Lessons
“Those were moments of profound emotional connection with our ancestors and history. The professor mentioned tears; yes, there were tears, I must admit, it’s not shameful, it’s a connection with ancestors. Without them, we wouldn’t exist. First and foremost, we must know who we are and where we come from to be able to learn our own history. It’s also important to have good professors who will encourage us; I was lucky to have truly good professors. I was always interested in my own past, history; I was interested in whether I had heroes behind me,” Andrej explained. “I think everyone should look back more at the past, given that the vast majority of my peers certainly had a great-grandfather who was on the Salonica Front, but perhaps they don’t even know it or don’t pay attention to it. Also, I think that schools don’t sufficiently emphasize this topic; instead, they focus more on World War II. There’s more talk about World War II, but in my opinion, World War I is much more important for Serbia because it was a war of liberation against Austria-Hungary,” Kosta agreed.
The high school team was led by history professors from their respective schools: Jasmina Marić from “Ivan Sarić” Technical School and Sava Samardžić from the Gymnasium, who also authored the quiz. They explained that the quiz was originally organized by “Kolo srpskih sestara,” which sponsored the event. However, the quiz itself was Professor Samardžić’s original work, which he elevated for this occasion with the help of Professor Marić.
“We held a semi-final in Subotica, where we hosted guests from Žabljak, Prijedor, Kosovska Kamenica, Aleksandrovac, Smederevska Palanka. The agreement was that some of the most significant names would be the team names, but they wouldn’t choose them; they’d be assigned by lot. That’s how we drew lots for the semi-final, and truly, the teams were evenly matched; everyone had an equal chance to go to Corfu, where the final was held. With great knowledge and dedication, hard work, and a love for history, these children earned their trip to Corfu and the final,” Samardžić explained.
Professor Marić, the history teacher who mentored them, constantly encouraged and supported them, confirming that a teacher is happiest when a student surpasses them, at least in some aspect. She made no secret of her satisfaction and pride in her young proteges.
“These four children, at this moment, know the history of World War I better than all the history professors in Subotica, including myself. They are incredibly prepared, down to the smallest details, particulars; they found and learned so much. Truly a source of admiration and pride for the city, and the schools they come from, and then for us,” the professor’s praise for her students flowed out in one breath.
She also reflected on their stay in Corfu, which left an indelible mark on all of them and brought a plethora of emotions, memories, and lessons.
“It was truly a pilgrimage. A very intense, rich program, very intense activities; we saw some of the key points for the Serbian army’s stay in Corfu over 4.5 months, from January to May 1916. We saw the place where the Serbian army disembarked, we went to the former cemetery of the Morava Division, we went to the place where the Third Army headquarters was, then the cemetery of the Drina Division. Along the way, we heard and saw many things, thanks to perfect organization. We didn’t just have a mere history lesson, but performances that took place in those locations. We had lectures, choral performances, dramatic parts, readings, recitations. It was endlessly touching, and as the crowning glory of it all, a 3-hour visit to the Memorial Ossuary on the island of Vido and the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy celebrated by the abbot of Corfu and the abbot of Hilandar Monastery, Metodije, from whose hands these children received their diplomas,” the professor emphasized.
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Source: Nova.rs, Foto: ATA Images