If you were to see freshman Jackie Bajric walking down the hallways, you would never know that her transition into high school wasn’t a typical one.

She did, however, have her brother and sister to help her.

“I don’t know how I’d be prepared, or this prepared for high school without them. They showed me the ropes of high school before I even came, so I was pretty excited instead of nervous,” Bajric said.

Even with all the preparation she had from her brother and sister, sophomore twins Mercedes and Mario Bajric, nothing could prepare her for what she found out on August 11th. After coming home from her Florida vacation during which she didn’t feel well at all, Bajric was diagnosed with hemolytic anemia, which caused her red blood cells to deteriorate which resulted in her not having a healthy amount.

Despite having physical setbacks — Bajric said that the medicine made her cheeks twice their normal size — the hardest part was not being able to play sports: one of Bajric’s passions.

“I wanted to do volleyball and basketball [my freshman year], but due to the disease I got I couldn’t really do that, so I’m just doing soccer and hoping for the best,” she said.

Although Bajric did face a challenge that most students are unfamiliar with, her brother and sister were there to support her through everything.

“I gave a speech in English about her being my hero, and how brave she is, and that she is so strong because I could have never gone through what she has been through,” Mario said.

“When she was diagnosed with hemolytic anemia I was not only surprised (because she’s such a healthy girl), but so heartbroken. Knowing I couldn’t help her or do anything about her pain was the worst feeling. Still she always had a big smile on her face and always there to cheer me on at my soccer games. Which I know it was hard for her, because she loves the game,” Mercedes said.

Since it runs in the family, Jackie has been playing soccer since she was about four years old, and has developed into a player who proudly plays midfield.

In addition to soccer, Bajric kicked off her freshman year by showing an interest in theater, which is a class that she hopes to take in the near future, and guitar, which she has been playing since fourth grade.

“I love guitar, but I wish I was a better singer,” Bajric said, laughing.

Her wide variety of interests make her “really outgoing,” as Mario describes her.

“She’s always got a smile on her face and she loves just having a good time. Me and Jackie are partners in crime. We are always laughing and joking around, I see myself in her because we are so much alike,” he said.

Jackie claims that she is close with both her brother and sister, but in different ways.

“Mario kind of as in another parent because he looks after me a lot, and Mercedes as [we have] fun, [it’s] less stressed out, [and more] go with the flow.”

“Jackie is like a best friend but even better because she is always there for me. We share secrets, play the same sports, and we (Mario and I) consider her our triplet. I couldn’t ask for a better sister, and sure that sounds cliché, but I truly mean it,” Mercedes said.

As for her first year as a wolf, Jackie is having a great time.

“I love it so much. I didn’t expect it to be this fun, because as I said I thought it was going to be a lot of work, but since I kind of see it more and more it’s getting pretty easy for me, so maybe I’ll take harder classes next year.”

To any incoming freshman, Jackie advises not to “stress about it too much, but still always do your best because even freshman year counts.”