Advocate Spotlight: Sasha Trajkovski

Sasha Trajkovski is an undergraduate student majoring in Biology and Chemistry at Valparaiso University from Crown Point, Indiana. Sasha sits on the American Heart Association’s Indiana State Advocacy Committee and is the President of the Valparaiso University Heart Club. 

I knew when coming to college that I wanted to get involved and find an organization where I could make a meaningful impact, one that I could contribute to, but that would also teach me more about myself and the type of person I want to become, both in my professional career and in my everyday life. The American Heart Association found me instead when a classmate asked if I’d like to help start a Heart Club on our campus. I jumped at the opportunity not only to improve our campus but also to make an impact across Indiana.

I met fellow Indiana Heart Powered advocates over Zoom, and as we began creating our club, I became involved in statewide advocacy! I learned how to approach lawmakers and quickly discovered that the most valuable tool I have when it comes to advocacy is myself. While facts and statistics are incredibly important, what’s even more meaningful is sharing your own life experiences and being able to explain why they matter.

I had the opportunity to put those skills into practice by attending the American Heart Association’s lobby day at the Indiana State Capitol. I spoke with lawmakers, shared personal stories, and connected with people from a variety of fields about heart health and heart safety. I left the Capitol that day feeling like my voice made an impact and that what I brought to the table truly mattered.

After lobby day, I wanted the chance to have a more personal conversation with a lawmaker who represents my hometown of Crown Point. I met with Representative Julie Olthoff, along with Christina Cesnik, Indiana Government Relations Director. The meeting was originally scheduled to last no more than an hour, but our conversation went much longer. We discussed topics including healthier school lunches, the dangers of vaping, creating more walkable neighborhoods by connecting sidewalks, and even the hobbies we each enjoy outside of our professional lives. I felt like I was able to genuinely share my ideas for improving the lives of families in Crown Point. Representative Olthoff was very interested in listening to and collaborating on ideas about what we could accomplish during the next legislative session.

Moving forward, I hope to continue meeting with my lawmakers, raise money for the Association’s upcoming Heart Walk in Northwest Indiana, and continue to grow as both an advocate and a servant leader in my communities.