Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Ivana's Leap: Chasing Dreams Against All Odds
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/ivanas-leap-chasing-dreams-against-all-odds

Story Transcript:

Hr: Ivana je stajala na stepenicama svoje škole, Split Public High, gledajući prema dvorištu gdje su učenici veselo šetali.
En: Ivana stood on the steps of her school, Split Public High, looking toward the courtyard where students were cheerfully strolling.

Hr: Jesenje lišće šuškalo je pod nogama prolaznika.
En: The autumn leaves rustled under the feet of passersby.

Hr: Ivana je osjećala nervozu i uzbuđenje.
En: Ivana felt a mix of nervousness and excitement.

Hr: Bližio se kraj školske godine, a ona je željela napraviti ogroman korak – otići na sveučilište u Zagreb.
En: The end of the school year was approaching, and she wanted to take a major step—going to the university in Zagreb.

Hr: Sanjala je o proučavanju biologije.
En: She dreamed of studying biology.

Hr: Ivana je bila marljiva učenica.
En: Ivana was a diligent student.

Hr: Voljela je znanost i istraživanje.
En: She loved science and research.

Hr: Znala je da joj treba stipendija kako bi pomogla financijski.
En: She knew she needed a scholarship to help financially.

Hr: No, problem je bio što njezina obitelj nije dijelila iste snove.
En: However, the problem was that her family didn’t share the same dreams.

Hr: Htjeli su da ostane u Splitu i pohađa lokalni fakultet.
En: They wanted her to stay in Split and attend a local college.

Hr: Luka, njezin najbolji prijatelj, bio je uz nju.
En: Luka, her best friend, was by her side.

Hr: Bio je opušten i često govorio: "Ivana, nemaš se čega bojati.
En: He was laid-back and often said, "Ivana, there's nothing to fear.

Hr: Moraš pokušati!
En: You have to try!"

Hr: " Luka je, iako nesiguran o svojoj budućnosti, uvijek podržavao Ivanine želje.
En: Although Luka was unsure about his own future, he always supported Ivana's wishes.

Hr: Jednog dana Ivana je imala sastanak s Markom, školskim savjetnikom.
En: One day, Ivana had a meeting with Marko, the school counselor.

Hr: Marko je sjedio za stolom prekrivenim papirima.
En: Marko sat at a desk covered with papers.

Hr: "Ivana, ako to stvarno želiš, moraš se hrabro suočiti s izazovima," rekao je smireno.
En: "Ivana, if you truly want this, you have to bravely face the challenges," he said calmly.

Hr: "Ivane," nastavio je Luka dok su sjedili u školskom dvorištu, "što ćeš napraviti?
En: "Ivana," continued Luka as they sat in the school courtyard, "what will you do?"

Hr: "Ivana je duboko udahnula.
En: Ivana took a deep breath.

Hr: "Prijavit ću se za stipendiju," odlučila je.
En: "I will apply for the scholarship," she decided.

Hr: Bila je spremna suočiti se s obitelji.
En: She was ready to face her family.

Hr: Bilo ju je strah, ali Luka ju je ohrabrivao.
En: She was scared, but Luka encouraged her.

Hr: Nakon škole, kod kuće, situacija se pogoršala.
En: After school, at home, the situation worsened.

Hr: "Zašto Zagreb?
En: "Why Zagreb?"

Hr: " majka je upitala.
En: her mother asked.

Hr: "Imamo dobar fakultet ovdje.
En: "We have a good college here."

Hr: ""Želim slijediti svoje snove, mama," objasnila je Ivana, osjećajući kako joj srce ubrzano kuca.
En: "I want to follow my dreams, mom," Ivana explained, feeling her heart race.

Hr: "Ovo je važno za mene.
En: "This is important to me."

Hr: "Napetost u kući bila je prisutna neko vrijeme.
En: The tension at home lingered for some time.

Hr: No, Ivana nije odustajala.
En: However, Ivana did not give up.

Hr: Uložila je sve u svoju prijavu za stipendiju.
En: She put everything into her scholarship application.

Hr: Nekoliko tjedana kasnije, primila je pismo iz Zagreba.
En: A few weeks later, she received a letter from Zagreb.

Hr: Otvorila ga je drhtavim rukama.
En: She opened it with trembling hands.

Hr: Tamo je stajalo: "Čestitamo, Ivana!
En: It read, "Congratulations, Ivana!

Hr: Dobili ste stipendiju.
En: You have been awarded the scholarship."

Hr: "Usprkos početnom negodovanju, njezina se obitelj složila podržati ju.
En: Despite the initial reluctance, her family agreed to support her.

Hr: Shvatili su koliko je Ivani to bilo važno.
En: They realized how important this was to Ivana.

Hr: Luka je gledao kako Ivana postaje sigurnija u sebe.
En: Luka watched as Ivana grew more confident in herself.

Hr: Razmislio je o svojoj budućnosti, možda i on treba malo hrabrosti da odluči što želi.
En: He pondered his own future; maybe he also needed a bit of courage to decide what he wanted.

Hr: Jesenji listovi nastavili su padati, ali Ivana je bila spremna za svoje novo putovanje.
En: The autumn leaves continued to fall, but Ivana was ready for her new journey.

Hr: Naučila je važnu lekciju – slušati svoje srce i ne popuštati pred pritiscima.
En: She learned an important lesson—to listen to her heart and not give in to pressures.

Hr: Aškola, s osmijesima svojih učenika, nastavila je živjeti svoj užurbani život, pripremajući se za nove snove i izazove.
En: The school, with the smiles of its students, continued its busy life, preparing for new dreams and challenges.


Vocabulary Words:

• courtyard: dvorište
• rustled: šuškalo
• passersby: prolaznika
• nervousness: nervoza
• diligent: marljiva
• scholarship: stipendija
• laid-back: opušten
• counselor: savjetnik
• bravely: hrabro
• challenge: izazov
• trembling: drhtavim
• reluctance: negodovanje
• pondered: razmislio
• tenacity: upornost
• reluctance: negodovanje
• lingered: prisutan
• dreamed: sanjala
• excited: uzbuđenje
• financially: financijski
• decided: odlučila
• reception: prijava
• congratulations: čestitamo
• amazement: zadivljenost
• tension: napetost
• support: podršku
• encouraged: ohrabrivao
• cheerfully: veselo
• research: istraživanje
• fear: strah
• approaching: bliži