Women did not get involved into politics until half a century ago. Now, they are commonly seen as public figures. Women can be anything: ranging from a homemaker to a president. Still, very few women across the globe are elected president. In Europe there are a few female leaders, such as former prime minister Margaret Thatcher from United Kingdom and President Angela Merkel from Germany.

For the first time in Southeastern Europe, a woman president has been elected. On Jan. 11, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic won Croatia’s presidential election by a slight percentage point against Ivo Josipovic, who served as president since 2010. The 46-year-old Grabar-Kitarovic also served as the first female Assistant Secretary General at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Her multiple steps to becoming president didn’t happen overnight. It took years of hard work and dedication to accomplish her realistic dream. In fact, she attended various schools in the United States.

Grabar-Kitarovic came to the United States as a foreign exchange student to study as a teen. While being in America, she attended Los Alamos High School in New Mexico. She then returned to Croatia and attended the University of Zagreb where she obtained a bachelors in English and Spanish and a masters in Political Science.

However, she has been a member of the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party since 1993. Grabar-Kitarovic did not run on a platform that included any women’s issues. During her victory speech she talked about her role to move the country forward. Her main influence is on foreign policy. Since she was former foreign minister, ambassador to the United States, and NATO Assistant Secretary-General she brings substantial experience in foreign policy.

Croatia, a member of the United Nations has 19 percent unemployment, according to Euronews. Grabar-Kitarovic covered the topic of fixing the economy during her speech: “I said in my campaign that I would work tirelessly to help fix the economy, create jobs and move our country forward, and I intend to live up to that promise. I believe Croatia five years from now will be vastly different from what it is today, and I am excited about the future.”

After the announcement of her victory, she strode to the podium with a bright confident smile on her face thanking all her supporters while shouting “You are my power”. Hvala vam! Hvala vam! (Thank you!)

She is a huge inspiration for many young women in the world. Grabar-Kitarovic becoming the first female president for her country just tells us that women can have the same power in politics as men. She sets a good example for young women by striving for an education and working hard to withhold many political positions.

Grabar-Kitarovic has the same influence in Croatia as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton does in America. They both served as diplomats and have held similar positions in power among men in politics. Clinton soon will be running for president in 2016 and possibly may become the first female president of the United States of America.

Grabar-Kitarovic will take office as president of Croatia on Feb. 19.

We will see if America follows in Croatia’s footsteps and elects their first female president.