From Slovenia to St. John’s—Via Rome and Canada

Born in Slovenia, Metka, the daughter of a diplomat, followed her sister Špela Kunstelj ’21C, who graduated from St. John’s. “My sister initially found St. John’s,” Metka recalled. “A priest she met was Slovenian and suggested to my dad that she apply here.”

“I had a few other options I was considering for college,” she continued. “But they were not as close to New York City. My sister loved it here and so do I.”

St. John’s Queens campus seems an unlikely destination for a student who was born in rural Vodice, Slovenia, a short drive from the capital city of Ljubljana and about four hours from Zagreb, Croatia. A seasoned traveler, Metka was not hesitant to move to New York City. By 17, she already had lived in two national capitals—Rome and Ottawa, Canada. New York seemed like an ideal fit for a cosmopolitan young woman eager to see another of the world’s great cities.

“I am always excited to explore,” Metka said. “I have spent more time abroad than at home in Slovenia. It’s so different going back there now and seeing it from a different perspective.”

Roughly the size of Maryland, Slovenia had been part of the former Yugoslavia, achieving independence in 1991. Today, it is one of the most stable of the post-Socialist states in Europe with a highly educated population and a literacy rate near 100 percent. The country’s official language is Slovene, although English is spoken by almost all younger citizens.

Metka is a Slovenian name that roughly translates in English to Margaret. Her father, Tomaž, is a seasoned ambassador who has represented the Slovenian government at the Vatican, in Canada, Italy, Tunisia, and Malta.

Her father’s career meant Metka’s family spent more time away from her native country than in it. At age two, her family moved to Ottawa, staying for five years before moving back to Slovenia. When she was 11, Metka’s family moved to Rome, Italy, where she remained until enrolling at St. John’s.

Of all the places she has lived, Rome remains her favorite. Still, it took a while for Metka to fully embrace the Eternal City. Not speaking Italian made things difficult initially.

“After a while I grew to love it,” Metka said. “The weather is great and my parents and I were able to visit different places in and around the Vatican. My father’s office was right by St. Peter’s Square.”

Metka has faced no such language challenges at St. John’s. In fact, she has faced little adjustment at all, immersing herself in the University’s mission and Vincentian heritage almost from the start of her first year. She is very active on campus and serves as a Catholic Scholar, Resident Assistant, and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society; tutors two subjects; and, as a member of Project AIM, helps fellow international students adapt to life in New York City.

The Catholic Scholars program offered her an opportunity to interact with other young people of faith and the American Chemical Society created a bond to share with other like-minded students. Her commitment to tutoring, much like Project AIM, grew out of an eagerness to help others in the St. John’s community who might struggle with subject matter or college adjustment issues.

“I always loved teaching,” Metka said, “and it is exciting for me to see the reaction of people when they get it.”

Graduate school is likely in Metka’s future, and she would like to put her chemistry background to use in the cosmetics industry. “I don’t know exactly where I will explore next. I’m open to living anywhere,” she said. “It depends on which way the wind blows.”