SAPS April Newsletter
Përshendetje!
Welcome to the April issue of the monthly Shoqata SAPS newsletter! Here we will update you on the month’s events and the achievements of SAPS members while keeping an eye out for events ahead. Let’s get right to it:
The Faton Limani Lectures
On Saturday, April 4th, we hosted our first Adaptive Leadership lecture featuring Mr. Faton Limani. The lecture proved an immense success, bringing together not only SAPS members and fellow college students but also Albanian professionals throughout the diaspora. The lecture began by distinguishing between authority and leadership, explaining that the former is often confused for the latter, going on to discuss when leaders can step out of their institutional positions. Mr. Limani remained open to questions throughout the event, deeply engaging with all participants. We were glad to hear guests remark how valuable they had found this first lecture.
II. Resumé Workshop
On April 20th, we hosted our virtual Resumé and Cover Letter Workshop. The event was led by board members Andina Pepshi and Lisa-Marie Preçi, both students at George Washington University, who gave a comprehensive overview on how to craft effective resumés and cover letters, offering tips to ensure that applicants capture their unique professional and academic strengths. They emphasized the importance of cover letters in making a personal connection with employers, explaining how to align the cover letter with the job description to demonstrate a perfect fit.
The workshop drew a wide variety of attendees, from high school to graduate students. Throughout the workshop, Andina and Lisa-Marie provided personalized feedback, culminating in a Q&A where students asked specific questions related to their individual career experiences. The workshop equipped participants with the necessary tools to present themselves professionally with much more confidence. Stay tuned for more professional resource events to come!
III. Dose of Albania series: Religious Tolerance
We continue the Dose of Albania (DOA) series, shining a spotlight on some of the nation’s most important legacies. The second installment celebrated the holiday season of Ramadan as well the Catholic and Orthodox Easters by a post on the Albanian tradition of religious tolerance. We began with a historical background on the phenomenon, beginning with the mass conversion to Islam during Ottoman rule and the need of Rilindja (National Renaissance) figures to build a common national identity that transcended religion. The post also explored the brutal repression of religion under the communist regime and how an environment of tolerance is flourishing in modern Albania, best expressed by Pope Francis's observation that: “There is a rather beautiful characteristic of Albania, one which is given great care and attention, and which gives me great joy: I am referring to the peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of different religions.”
Check out the full post on the SAPS Instagram page!
IV. Eagle Pod: Aron Tocaj & Rei Rama and Enri Lala episodes
Board member and host of the Eagle Pod Lorena Culaj continues to release new episodes. Lorena’s recent podcast featured Aron Tocaj and Rei Rama, president and vice president of Shoqata SAPS respectively. This episode addresses Aron and Rei’s mission and vision of Shoqata SAPS, their early childhood in Albania, the transition to American life, their passions and hobbies as well as valuable life advice.
Aron is currently a junior at John Hopkins University majoring in Biophysics and Rei has completed his B.S. in Biology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In the conversation, they go into detail about their passion for medicine, discussing some of the struggles that come with that rigorous path. Aron and Rei reiterate the idea that although difficult, medicine is a highly worthwhile field. Highlighting their stories of moving to America and adjusting to the change, both provide valuable advice to other Albanian-American students working towards similar goals. This inspirational podcast reminds listeners to appeal to the deep mission behind their pursuits, despite the setbacks they will inevitably meet along the way.
The second Eagle Pod conversation featured Enri Lala, a sophomore at UC, Santa Barbara and Editor of our SAPS newsletter. The wide-ranging conversation covered Enri’s journey from his childhood years in Tirana to college life and beyond. Enri spoke about his passion for Albanian history, spanning from antiquity with the legend of Rozafa into modernity with the brilliance of Faik Konica and the downfall of communism. He also described the mission behind Arbanon Magazine, the media site dedicated to Albanian history, culture and current events. Follow the website for new articles spanning literature, history both recent and ancient, as well as interviews with Albanian leaders!
And of course, stay tuned for upcoming EaglePod episodes highlighting the stories of outstanding students and community members.
VI. Upcoming events
The Second Adaptive Leadership Lecture will be taking place on Saturday, May 4th at 9:00 - 10:00 AM EST. Mr. Limani will expand on the topics of the preceding lecture and shift our focus to technical and adaptive challenges to leadership. RSVP for the event here – we can’t wait to see you there!
Thank you for tuning in to the third installment of our monthly newsletter. We hope you have gained something and please do not hesitate to reach out with any suggestions or ideas for collaboration. Until next time!
Gjithë të mirat,
The SAPS Team
