Thomas R. Proctor High School Class of 1998 alumni Sandro Sehic’s journey at the Utica City School District almost ended before it ever began. As a young Bosnian teenager in a war-torn county, his father was detained in a concentration camp, and his mother made plans to flee to Germany. When his family’s German visas expired, they were forced to search for a place to resettle.
One day, Sehic’s family received a phone call from The U.S. Consulate that changed everything, and with it, came hope.
In 1995, Sehic left behind everything he knew with the promise of safety, freedom and opportunity – thanks to the Utica Refugee Center, which sponsored his family. He knew little about the United States beyond what he had seen in Hollywood films, and didn’t speak English.
Sehic couldn’t pronounce “Utica,” but he located it on a map right away, assuming it was a suburb of New York City. When his family arrived to Utica, they received word that his father made it out of Bosnia safely and would soon join them in their new city. Despite everything he had endured, Sehic worried about fitting in, whether classmates would make fun of his speech or if he’d get lost on the bus ride to Proctor High School.
Entering the Utica City School District as a tenth grade student, Sehic vividly remembers his English as a Second Language teacher. It was a rainy morning when his brothers and him first stepped into Proctor High School, having been through an odyssey that most kids couldn’t fathom. That fear began to fade when Sehic met Mrs. Constatine, and later Miss Bartlett, who immediately began helping his brothers and him learn English. Whether it was this moment or the years that followed, this experience shaped Sehic’s future. He would go on to become a high school educator himself, giving back to the community that helped build his foundation.
Today, Sehic is a distance learning teacher for social studies and psychology at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, allowing him to teach students across multiple school districts. Some of his most prized possessions are the letters he has received from his students which he keeps framed in his office, a true testament to his passion for teaching.
Outside the classroom, Sehic is highly involved in the community. He is a community leader and co-founder of the Bosnian American Community Association (BACA). BACA is a nonprofit committed to promoting and empowering Bosnian American heritage and unity in Utica through education, cultural engagement and active community involvement. He also mentors Bosnian youth, serves as a board member with Olmsted City and volunteers with the Players of Utica.
“Once in a while, I go to Proctor and I always feel this nostalgia,” Sehic said. “Remembering this classroom and that classroom where I sat. I like to go to the track at the gym. There are so many pictures of students and athletes, and when I recognize people, it feels so good to have this alumni connection.”
Although Sehic doesn’t consider himself a natural athlete, he says he’s proud to have played on the Proctor football team alongside fellow alumnus and NFL standout defensive end for the New Orleans Saints William Smith. He also remembers Coach Walter Savage as a major influence during his high school days. Standing at a towering 6-foot-5 inches, nearly every coach encouraged Sehic to join their team. When he decided to play football, Sehic practiced in tennis shoes because size 13 cleats weren’t easy to find and money was tight. One day, Coach Savage surprised him with a brand-new pair of cleats. Sehic asked his coach how much he owed, and Savage refused his payment.
“I will never forget it. He told me, ‘Don't worry about it.’ I kept asking how much I owed, and he still wouldn’t take any money. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” Sehic says humbly, explaining that he wasn’t even a top player.
Sehic enjoyed exercise and comradery more than the competition.
“I was on the football team, but was I good? No. I came to practice. I worked hard and Coach Savage taught me and I got stronger. It was a fun time,” Sehic recalled.
Today, some of Sehic’s students are the children of his former classmates, a full-circle moment he deeply appreciates. He often tells students, “I knew your dad, we went to Proctor together.”
When Sehic was asked what advice he would give current students in the District, he responded with great wisdom.
“I wish I could go back at least for one day and be a student again. You don’t realize it when you're there, but high school is the best time of your life. Make the most of it and enjoy it,” Sehic said.
A lifelong learner, Sehic admires President Ulysses S. Grant as a champion of civil rights.
After graduating from high school, Sehic attended Mohawk Valley Community College, where he earned an associate in humanities and social studies. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in political science, a master’s in education and a doctorate in curriculum and education. Later, he also earned a master’s in sociology.
With a slew of teachers rolling off his tongue, Sehic explained that his teachers at Proctor were like second parents. It was at the high school that his love of Utica bloomed, and today he still resides in the city that offered him refuge. He explained that Utica is his forever home and he doesn’t feel the pull to relocate.
Through his actions, Sehic continues to give back and never forgets where he came from. The kindness he received in Utica shaped his character, and today he lives life paying that generosity forward. He shows others what it means to live with gratitude, both in the classroom and in the community.