From a young age, I learned to love airplanes. I was lucky enough to have been to more than 10 countries before I turned 10 years old. So, when we found out about Ivana Nikolova, a basketball player from Bulgaria, I was immediately drawn to the story.
I had little to no knowledge about Bulgaria, and definitely could not point out Samokov on a map. I was eager to find out more about Ivana’s move across the globe, and how it has been impacted by the pandemic. I personally could not imagine moving to a new country, during a time where meeting new people is heavily discouraged.
Ivana radiates positivity. She is incredibly happy to be in San Luis Obispo, even when most of her encounters with new people are virtual. It was inspiring to hear her story, and how she has found a support system through her basketball team.
“I fell in love with the team and the coaches,” Ivana said. “I feel like it’s my family here and I am going to get all of the support I need.”
There are multiple international players on the Cal Poly women’s basketball team, but Ivana is the only international freshman. We found her story very unique. First, in San Luis Obispo, you do not get to meet very many Bulgarian natives. Ivana’s journey is even more unique, as she made the international move during the pandemic.
For our story, we decided to concentrate on how her Cal Poly career has been impacted by COVID-19. Our questions revealed not only how Ivana’s basketball season has changed, but also showed what a typical freshman experience is like now.
The reality is a socially distant, frequently quarantined quarter. Ivana has been quarantined three times. We had to postpone the initial interview because she had to pack up her stuff again and move to the quarantine dorms. We also were unable to get our own footage of her playing basketball because she was not allowed to see anyone. Marley, my partner, conducted the interview and had trouble with scheduling.
“This story was definitely a difficult one to put together. It seemed like we had to consistently get past obstacles,” Marley said. “However, I’m glad that we were able to do the story. Ivana’s story is one I think a lot of people will want to hear.”
Despite this, Ivana has still found her time at Cal Poly very exciting. She enjoys virtual conversations with classmates and professors, which I assumed many Cal Poly freshmen would not like. I know I find breakout rooms and office hours very awkward online. I was both surprised and inspired by Ivana’s positive outlook.