Klaudija Mikulić, Bijeli Brijeg, Bosnia & Herzegovina
There is a hidden angel within every person
Author: Klaudija Mikulić
This is a tale of the love and support I received throughout my upbringing. The small acts of love and support I received served as motivation for me to persevere in my struggles. Likewise, the love my friends bestowed upon me filled their hearts as well.
I was born prematurely, which had lasting effects on my health. I have a mild strabismus and experience hemiplegia in my left hand and foot. During my childhood, I was unable to walk independently, necessitating nine orthopedic surgeries and one ophthalmic procedure to regain my mobility.
The love for music found its way into my heart from a very early age and has remained there permanently. I have showcased my talents in nursery and school performances, as well as various festivals and events. Currently, I am devoted to working with children and young people with developmental challenges at the Los Rosales Center. As a music teacher and choir director at church, I have the opportunity to share my passion with others. Additionally, I am pursuing a doctoral degree, focusing on my research. Music has become an integral part of my entire life.
Working with young individuals with developmental difficulties has taught me to embrace the uniqueness of each person in my environment. While I had studied and read about it, it took time for my mind and my being to truly internalize it as a reality of life. It was through my encounter with Los Rosales that I gained a proper understanding, acceptance, and, above all, a deep respect for it—for myself, my clients, and those around me. We often have a tendency to compare ourselves to others, but it also requires time to learn the skill of embracing diversity in all aspects, not just in terms of disabilities.
Through my work, I assist children and young people with special needs in discovering music and sound in a fresh and transformative manner. Through music therapy, they have the opportunity to develop their motor skills, decrease stress levels, build self-confidence, and improve their focus, concentration, and memory. Engaging in music activities together promotes better communication, encourages collaboration, and instills a profound respect for others.
During my upbringing and education, my classmates provided invaluable support alongside my family. The mothers of my classmates and our teachers nurtured a sense of perseverance and unity. As I often missed school due to recovery periods, the mothers of my classmates would bring their children to our home. Together, we would catch up on missed lessons, collaborate on homework, and study. It was like having a mini-school environment right in my own house. After completing our tasks, we would relax by watching cartoons. Spending a significant amount of time at home, I received thoughtful gifts of animated movies, resulting in an impressive collection. Dumbo, the cherished elephant, held a special place in my heart due to its profound message of embracing one’s uniqueness and having unwavering self-belief to achieve greatness. We all yearn for love and at least one friend who believes in us, just as Dumbo did.
The song that was composed for me to perform, about the elephant Dumbo, held a deep significance for me: “Dumbo, Dumbo, forget your flaws because life is a grand game, let go of all worries”. Following my discharge from the hospital and my performance of that song at a festival, my classmates presented me with their drawings. The little hands of first-graders, with their endearing clumsiness but abundant love, sketched the elephant with its oversized ears flying above our school. These drawings adorned the walls of my room for a long time.
Another song I performed at the Little Melodies of Mostar in 2004 was “There is a hidden angel within every person”. The chorus of the song is particularly uplifting: “In every person, an angel is hidden, we are prone to judge wrongly. In every person, an angel is hidden, and only love can awaken it.”
Upon leaving the auditorium, my friends joyfully chanted my name, arranging themselves into the shape of a flower. Those heartfelt gestures are forever imprinted in my memory. I felt an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance in that moment. Several years later, at the Melodies of Mostar event, I had the privilege of performing an original composition about love alongside my friend Luka. To demonstrate their unwavering support, my classmates created a large banner that proudly proclaimed: “Lucija and Luka – you are the best!” These acts of encouragement and solidarity will always hold a special place in my heart.
The empathy shown by my friends towards me is not only a reward for themselves but also a characteristic that is acquired and ingrained permanently in each person. Growing up with me has helped them blossom into individuals who are sensitive to the needs of others. Now, as mothers, my dear friends aspire to raise their children and teach them the importance of empathy, just as our own mothers taught us.