When 14-year-old Lina Kovac packed a single backpack, left a note for her parents, and boarded a train to Prague, she wasn’t just running away—she was running toward something she believed in. What followed was a journey of unimaginable struggle, resilience, and eventual triumph that few could have predicted.
The Breaking Point
Lina grew up in a small Slovakian village where opportunities were scarce. Her parents, both factory workers, expected her to follow the same path: finish school, marry young, and settle into a quiet life. But Lina dreamed of something bigger—she wanted to dance.
After years of being told her ambitions were “foolish,” she made a decision that would change her life:
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She withdrew all her savings (€120 from birthdays and chores)
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Left a note: “I have to try. Don’t look for me.”
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Boarded a train to Prague with nothing but a change of clothes and a pair of worn ballet shoes
The Harsh Reality of Survival
Prague was nothing like she imagined. With no money, no connections, and no plan, Lina faced:
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Homelessness: She slept in train stations and park benches
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Hunger: Survived on bread and stolen fruit from markets
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Exploitation: A man claiming to be a talent scout offered her food and shelter—then demanded “repayment” in ways she refused to describe
But she never gave up. By day, she cleaned dishes in a café for meals. By night, she practiced ballet in abandoned warehouses, using cracked mirrors to correct her form.
The Moment That Changed Everything
One evening, a customer at the café noticed her practicing pliés between shifts. That customer happened to be Elena Vostrikova, a former prima ballerina with the Czech National Ballet.
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Elena arranged an audition with the Prague Dance Academy
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Lina, malnourished and exhausted, danced with a fire that stunned the judges
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She was offered a full scholarship on the spot
The Bittersweet Reunion
Years later, now a principal dancer with the Vienna State Ballet, Lina returned to her village. Her parents, who had spent years searching for her, didn’t recognize the poised woman who stepped off the train.
“I thought you were dead,” her mother sobbed.
“I would have been,” Lina replied, “if I had stayed.”
The Legacy She Built
Today, Lina runs a foundation that helps young artists from impoverished backgrounds. Her advice to dreamers?
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“Talent isn’t enough—you need stubbornness.”
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“The world will try to break you. Don’t let it.”
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“Sometimes, you have to leave to find yourself.”
