Today we’d like to introduce you to Aida Mandic.
Hi Aida, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I survived the Bosnian Genocide, got viciously bullied in the American public school system (because I was the “foreign European chick”), and became a freedom fighter and rebel. I made a company called Searchkey. It’s an education technology platform that helps students to find scholarships, awards, grants, and other resources all in one place. I also started to write. A lot. There ya go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have never experienced a smooth road in my entire life. I have experienced hard work, research, and a generous portion of haters. No one helped me to succeed. I did everything myself. I’ve lost “friends” because some of them became jealous of my talent. It’s tragic and disgusting, but it’s all true. Why is it difficult to publish a book but easy to purchase a gun? Why is it simple to rape someone and get away with it but difficult to get social support for a very worthy cause? I write about intense topics like this.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an entrepreneur, author, poet, songwriter, activist, and inventor. I’m the author of 120 books. I used to be a refugee. I was very poor, borderline homeless. I think that suffering is very important. It gives genuine perspective. It provides a reality check. The ego doesn’t become outrageous, big, and senseless.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I got dangerously high copper levels in my blood. I don’t know how that happened. I could have died. I could have gotten severe liver damage. I have never felt so powerless and useless in my entire life. I have hand tremors that are so severe that sometimes it takes me one hour to write an email. I have had days where I could not chew, walk, talk, or write. I can’t travel right now. My personality has changed. I avoid people who argue. I avoid drama like the plague. I’ve grown past lies, deceit, and two-faced approaches. I have spent days in bed because I have no energy. I learned that I can handle solitude very well. People take SO MANY THINGS for granted. Life doesn’t owe anyone anything. Since we’re talking about the COVID crisis, I will mention that in 2020, I had a breakup. My boyfriend backstabbed me. This was long before my health crisis. I have learned that it’s important to not lie to yourself. It’s vital to not make excuses. I think that reputation is a social construct that limits the truth. It takes away the power of the individual by presenting socially acceptable fragments, so they don’t really talk about obstacles they overcame. We get a fake picture of who they are. It’s unfair and unacceptable. It’s extremely distancing. My life experience has taught me to be genuine, raw, and real. Maybe I’m too honest for some people, but that is not my concern.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aidamandic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidawesome/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aidamandicbooks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidamandic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aidawesomeee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aidawesome
- SoundCloud: https://medium.com/@Aidawesome
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aidawesome
