No matter what he’s doing, Adriatik Kastrati stays rooted in service.
Growing up in a family of hardworking entrepreneurs meant that Adriatik had several role models for his lengthy resume of jobs. From starting in the restaurant industry to dominating sales floors to working in a hospital, his willingness to take any job and work with a diverse staff of people gave him the skills to lead and follow through in various industries.
Now, he’s focusing that passion on the pursuit of a college degree, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cyber & Data Security Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), which he hopes would allow him to expand his reach.
That’s not all he has to look forward to, however. Adriatik is looking forward to welcoming his first daughter with his fiancé in December 2025, and by maintaining a lifestyle that satisfies both his interests and mission to help as many people as possible, he cements his legacy.
“I know, a lot of people will look to do the least — I want to do the most,” he says. “I want to see what the maximum is that I can get out of this.”
Family First and Forever
Adriatik’s family hails from Kosovo, making him a first-generation American citizen. He speaks Albanian at home and holds his family close. While he notes his father’s past held influence, his uncle was just as much of an inspiring presence.
Adriatik spent many years working with his uncle in Italian restaurants, where he saw the positive impact he had on his staff and cohorts. His uncle helped others open their own restaurants, and Adriatik also observed the humble lifestyle his uncle led, despite being very financially successful.
“His business place made so much money, but his character showed me so much that the money didn't matter,” Adriatik says. “The most important thing was family, making sure that everybody was okay. Those types of things really made me who I am today.”
His uncle has since passed away, and Adriatik maintains a healthy lifestyle and strong propensity for servitude, following in his uncle’s footsteps.
“If I've learned anything from my experiences, from my uncle, from my dad, from anybody — this is the moment that I have to tune in,” he says.
An Endless Work Ethic
After spending that time in restaurants in his youth, Adriatik took his hospitality training to an entirely new level. One day, he heard about openings at a hospital right down the street, and he simply walked in and applied for a job. He was given a patient ambassador role, visiting each patient’s room and interacting with all of them individually.
“I heard all kinds of stories, and I felt all kinds of emotions.”
Adriatik did so well in the role that he was promoted in just a few months. Less than two years later, that hospital became a showcase hospital, where Adriatik served as assistant director, overseeing operations and administrative details for over 100 people.
“The more I felt involved with everybody, the easier it was to communicate with them.”
He recalls helping each staff member with every task imaginable, from cleaning work to daily tasks, and made it apparent he was available to assist however necessary, despite his title.
“People would have this idea that if I wore the suit, then I wouldn't want to do those types of things, but I could wear a full-on suit and still grab all the trash,” he explains. “I wanted to prove it didn't matter if I had a suit on, it was more about helping out.”
It was an opportunity that would further share his leadership style and prepare him for future roles.
Eventually Adriatik shifted his focus to a sales job, working for a car dealership in Corpus Christi, Texas. His personality and work ethic helped the company nearly quadruple their profits in a matter of months, and he enjoyed working with the family-owned business. However, he was far from his own family. After five years in this role, he moved back to Fort Worth to be closer to his home.
UAGC At the Forefront
Holding values like hard work and communication close means Adriatik takes advantage of opportunities as they come, which extends to UAGC.
This is his second attempt at an undergraduate degree, which he put on hold after the previous institution shuttered its doors toward the end of his program. After he saw positive reviews of UAGC online, he says he trusted his instincts and enrolled.
He saw the benefits through the faculty and their own helpfulness, right from the start.
“I think what was the cherry on top is the staff,” he says. “They are kind. They give me every answer I need. There is nothing I have to wait on. There was nothing they don’t really know. They are so attentive. They give me everything I need, and it is so smooth.”
With an expected graduation date in 2027, Adriatik continues to fulfill his curiosity around technology and cybersecurity through his UAGC coursework. Ultimately, he hopes to use his degree to pursue a role with the federal government.
“I'd feel like my life would be so fulfilled,” Adriatik says of his career objective. “What else could I do better than that, with my skills? That would be the ultimate thing. Could you imagine saving kids? To me, that would be a blessing.”
Life Outside the Grind
Always involved, Adriatik also serves as the treasurer for the UAGC Student Government Association. However, his laser focus on education doesn’t distract from another important facet of his life: his creative pursuits.
Adriatik hosts virtual gaming communities in his spare time and encourages only positive members to attend. He also designs and sells his own clothing line and DJs while learning about cars on the side. He claims moving forward with one of his hobbies daily keeps his mental health intact.
“If I don't progress in something in a day, I'm depressed,” he says. “Being genuine and being creative in a logically run world has made me who I am today.”
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