Transylvania student’s multi-talented background
Claudiu Bora – to everyone on campus is just the regular foreign student from Transylvania, but how many of you really know his story?
Bora first came to the states on an mission for the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and served in Provo, Utah. Shortly, after returning home from his two-year mission, he came back to the states to gain an education. He is the only member of his family with a high school diploma.
This archived article was written by: Jessa Love Adams & Devin Latu
Claudiu Bora – to everyone on campus is just the regular foreign student from Transylvania, but how many of you really know his story?
Bora first came to the states on an mission for the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and served in Provo, Utah. Shortly, after returning home from his two-year mission, he came back to the states to gain an education. He is the only member of his family with a high school diploma.
“I wanted to do it for myself,” was Bora’s response. “Education is important and worth the sacrifice, no matter what anyone says it’s worth the struggle.” Now because of his determination to pursue an education he holds many awards and records.
He played both football and basketball for BYU Idaho, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business, but that’s not the only award he received at BYUI. Bora was recognized with the most motivational player award in 2006 for basketball. He didn’t stop there, in fact he’s undefeated in his amateur boxing career, and he has played rugby ever since he was a child in Transylvania.
He has attempted to break multiple records. Anybody who has ever ran stairs for conditioning knows how challenging it is. He once ran 27,860 sets of stairs in the BYUI stadium in nine hours. We know what you’re thinking … Wow! That’s amazing! But, that’s not it. In May 2003, he ran on a treadmill for 12 consecutive hours, an incredible 59.37 miles. “I just wanted to break a world record” said Bora. Not all of his achievements are just for the sake of breaking records, some are a lot more personal to him. His father was diagnosed with lung cancer and died from his sickness while Bora was in the states. In memory of his father, in December of 2006 Bora ran and biked 206 miles from Rexburg, Idaho, to Roy, Utah, in the Iron Man Competition. He ran 10 miles a day, lifted heavy weights and swam laps to prepare himself for this event.
Currently, Bora is taking 15-credit hours and working three part-time jobs as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), working in the CEU bookstore and cafeteria. Along with this busy schedule, he is also a cheerleader and participates in dance ensemble. “I love to dance, I do country dancing, I’m also a ballroom dancer,” he noted.
This year he will be receiving his associate’s degree in art from CEU. He hopes to gain a master’s degree in nursing and pursue a medical career. “Right after my dad died, I decided nursing is what I want to do.”
His family is proud and supportive of him. Bora is excited to be flying home at Christmas to see his family for the first time in eight years. “My mom is my hero, she’s gone through a lot of hard times, she’s legally blind, but she never gives up and wants what’s best for us,” he said about the love he has for his mother.
In the past eight years since he last visited home his dad and grandparents both passed, and two siblings have been married. He plans to visit his family member’s resting places, and spend the holiday with his family.
Throughout his struggles and hard times being homesick and adjusting to America’s culture, Bora is still positive about life. “I like to see life from a very positive perspective.”
