The University of Akron Athletics
In Their Own Words - Danilo Radjen Alumni Postcard
Akron Athletics wants to hear from YOU!
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Danilo Radjen (2014-17, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
I think just the tradition that the men’s soccer program has in the USA. Just to be apart of something that people hold in high regard is something I am very proud of.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
Currently I am in Belgrade, Serbia and restrictions are pretty tight living in the city. Weekends are tough because we can't go out from Friday evening until Monday morning. This has been going on for the past few weeks. So in that regard, weekends can be a struggle, especially if you are living in an apartment complex which is what I am living in. No way to go outside, but I’ve find peace with reading and working on myself during this quarantine. Hopefully a few more weeks here and everything will start getting back to normal.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
I would say it’s a good time to work on yourself during this quarantine. Physically and mentally we can all improve and now is the time to begin a process of self improvement within.
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Try to eat healthy and stay fit inside.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
I recently signed a contract with FK Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia. The club has a rich history in the Balkans and I'm very happy to be apart of the club.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
I think just providing me the best opportunity to go play professional soccer after I finished college.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
I liked it because the guys on the team were all welcoming and accepting. Kind of felt like a family from the first day.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
Well the reputation the soccer program has made me being a student-athlete a very grateful experience.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Probably the golden goal in the Elite Eight against Creighton. That was awesome.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
I think just still being in touch with a lot of teammates even three years after I graduated. That shows that my time at Akron was more than just about soccer.Â
What is your personal success story?
In life, I would say signing with FK Partizan. I got the contract without an agent and did it through just trusting the process. Learned a new language, made contacts through meeting people, and was able to accomplish a goal. Felt surreal signing the contract. At Akron, I would say coming back my junior year after being injured for a year and to help lead the team to a College Cup was my personal success story at Akron.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
I would say discipline in trying to be the best you can be. Coming to training everyday with the best players from around the country and world makes you hold yourself to a high standard. I think that can really help someone throughout their life.Â
How has being a student-athlete at Akron aided in your personal development?
Leaning how to work with people has been something I learned during my time at Akron.
Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
I think just the discipline of staying focused on a task when I needed to accomplish something was the most important thing in regards to time management.Â
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
You compete to win. Playing can be for fun.Â
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
I meditate regularly in order to stay in top mental form.
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Danilo Radjen (2014-17, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
I think just the tradition that the men’s soccer program has in the USA. Just to be apart of something that people hold in high regard is something I am very proud of.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
Currently I am in Belgrade, Serbia and restrictions are pretty tight living in the city. Weekends are tough because we can't go out from Friday evening until Monday morning. This has been going on for the past few weeks. So in that regard, weekends can be a struggle, especially if you are living in an apartment complex which is what I am living in. No way to go outside, but I’ve find peace with reading and working on myself during this quarantine. Hopefully a few more weeks here and everything will start getting back to normal.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
I would say it’s a good time to work on yourself during this quarantine. Physically and mentally we can all improve and now is the time to begin a process of self improvement within.
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Try to eat healthy and stay fit inside.
What is your current job, title, ect. that are keeping you busy these days?
I recently signed a contract with FK Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia. The club has a rich history in the Balkans and I'm very happy to be apart of the club.
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
I think just providing me the best opportunity to go play professional soccer after I finished college.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
I liked it because the guys on the team were all welcoming and accepting. Kind of felt like a family from the first day.
What makes being a student-athlete at Akron unique?
Well the reputation the soccer program has made me being a student-athlete a very grateful experience.
What are your favorite memories on court, field, etc.?
Probably the golden goal in the Elite Eight against Creighton. That was awesome.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
I think just still being in touch with a lot of teammates even three years after I graduated. That shows that my time at Akron was more than just about soccer.Â
What is your personal success story?
In life, I would say signing with FK Partizan. I got the contract without an agent and did it through just trusting the process. Learned a new language, made contacts through meeting people, and was able to accomplish a goal. Felt surreal signing the contract. At Akron, I would say coming back my junior year after being injured for a year and to help lead the team to a College Cup was my personal success story at Akron.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
I would say discipline in trying to be the best you can be. Coming to training everyday with the best players from around the country and world makes you hold yourself to a high standard. I think that can really help someone throughout their life.Â
How has being a student-athlete at Akron aided in your personal development?
Leaning how to work with people has been something I learned during my time at Akron.
Being a student-athlete requires a lot of time management. How have you learned to do so?
I think just the discipline of staying focused on a task when I needed to accomplish something was the most important thing in regards to time management.Â
What is your view on the difference between playing and competing?
You compete to win. Playing can be for fun.Â
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
I meditate regularly in order to stay in top mental form.
