The Albanian American Student Organization, formed in 2019, has continued to grow members and creates a welcoming community to the Albanian students at University of Detroit Mercy.
The group gets together to do many events for students to connect over their background and form relationships. Some previous events hosted for the club are Friendsgiving, athletic tournaments, bake sales, Cider Mill trip and bowling.
“The Albanian American Student Organization offers us a sense of belonging and a way to stay connected with our roots, while giving us an opportunity to share our culture with others at UDM,” said member Maria Gojcaj, a senior at UDM. “It’s a space where we support each other, share experiences, and connect with people who understand our background. Personally, this club has given me friendships that will last a lifetime and has truly impacted my experience at UDM in the best way possible.”
Other members echoed that feeling of support and community built through the organization.
“It’s a space to connect, share experiences, educate others about Albanian culture, and give back by donating to charities,” said member Gabriella Mirakaj, a senior at UDM “The club provides a sense of belonging and a way to keep our identity strong while making a positive impact on campus and beyond. For me, it’s been a way to also find support, build leadership skills, and build friendships.”
The aforementioned events help build those friendships.
“We organize events, participate in cultural celebrations and often collaborate with other student organizations, building a stronger presence on campus,” Gojcaj said.
Gojcaj and Mirakaj both discussed their Albanian background, aligning with the organization’s values of being welcoming, embracing Albanian family history and giving Albanian students a community.
“Being Albanian means carrying a strong connection to my heritage and culture, especially valuing the importance of family, resilience and being welcoming to others,” Gojcaj said. “Growing up with these values has given me a strong sense of identity and community, which keeps me grounded as I experience new things and places.”
Those values also connect with Mirakaj.
“Being Albanian means carrying my family’s history and embracing rich cultural values,” Mirakaj said. “My family fled the Kosovo war to give me a chance for a better life, and that drives me to work harder and stay connected to my roots.”
With the welcoming atmosphere AASO offers to Detroit Mercy’s Albanian students, they have been drawing in new members yearly.
Julia Gjura is a first-year student majoring in biology at UDM and was delighted to hear the university offers an Albanian American Student Organization.
“As a freshman, I was very excited to see that Detroit Mercy had a club that included one of the most important communities I am a part of,” Gjura said. “Being an Albanian is a huge aspect of my identity, and I was grateful to see that my school had an Albanian American student organization.”
She is also excited for what lies ahead.
“I’ve been keeping up with upcoming events in the club and I’m excited to take part in them and meet more people from my community,” she said.
