As we celebrate our freedoms this Fourth of July, some U.S. residents are celebrating as citizens for the first time. 

Pinellas County teen Nejra Colic just took the oath of allegiance to become a citizen.

Every week, new citizens take part in naturalization ceremonies in Tampa. Their stories are often those of overcoming obstacles, many of them inspirational.

Colic's journey began in Bosnia.

"It was hard during the times of war,” she said, “My mom never knew if they were going to have enough to eat, or if they were going to be alive the next day."

Born in to poverty after the Bosnian war was over, Colic shared a home with her parents, older sister and both sets of grandparents. Nejra was 3 years old when her parents received refugee status, and her family moved to the U.S.
 
"We were starting a whole new life. We were literally leaving everything behind,” she said.

Colic said her parents worked hard to pay the bills, as she struggled to fit in with a different culture and new language.

"It took me a while to learn how to speak English, because my parents couldn't teach me, they didn't know themselves,” she said

Now 18, Colic is fluent in English. She earned a 4.67 GPA at St. Petersburg Northeast High School.  She graduated this month as the class salutatorian. The same day, she earned a perfect score on her citizenship test.

"It's just so much to be thankful for and so much opportunity that if you don’t  take advantage of it it's a little selfish. Because there are millions of other people who would love to be in your spot. I just feel we should be grateful every day for that," Colic said.

It’s a message she shared with others as they took the oath of allegiance together. At her swearing-in ceremony, Colic gave a speech.

“I believe that no matter what your background is or where you come from, your dreams are valid. And that is what we have witnessed here today," she said.

It's a new chapter in life, just in time for the Fourth of July. Colic said in the past, she’s always felt a little bit like an outsider.  This year, she's celebrating as a U.S. citizen.

"I'm finally what I always thought I was - an American,” she said, “I'm very proud of that."

Colic said she's most looking forward to her right to vote, and she'll definitely go to the polls next election day. She’ll attend USF in the fall, and eventually, medical school.