Ishikaa Mukherjee, Grade 12
UWC Atlantic
Atlantic College is a dream come true, but even dreams can’t capture the true nuances and unique quirks of UWC Atlantic life, the things that make it special.
There are numerous aspects of the experience which are special to me, and unattainable at any other school. The tempestuous seafront is used for various sporting events, or just as a means to escape from the more academic, and in some ways, overwhelming side of UWC. Or the magnificent castle which to this day leaves me in a state of awe every time I pass it. Or the luscious gardens, which are rendered somehow more idyllic in the rare case where the sun is out. These facilities are all incredibly special and breathtaking, and one never truly gets used to them. However, these are not the only things that make the UWC Atlantic experience unforgettable.
One other factor that sets UWC Atlantic apart from other boarding schools is its student-imposed culture. Ranging from the ‘first year camp’ with the ever-iconic “Dancing in the Moonlight”, which acts as its theme song, to Toga Day, where the second years come wrapped in bedsheets, UWC Atlantic traditions have always been an integral part of its culture. They evoke a feeling of being a small yet indispensable part of a much larger whole, a whole which will continue to live on as more UWC students experience what we have. Traditions give each UWC its own distinct flavour, its individuality, yet something to unite generations of UWC students.
The small things at UWC Atlantic are what make it so special. Such seemingly simplistic pleasures as sinking your teeth into a golden hash brown at brunch, the beautiful sunrises above the ocean horizon, or simply the act of walking to class, or running to the dining hall in the rain, while doing your utmost to stay as dry as possible. These simple moments are the ones that really give UWC Atlantic its charm. The immense variety of clubs, councils, and groups at UWC Atlantic allow for all students to discover their passion, bond with others who share such a passion and thus make a change in the world. Things like Lighthouse, PeaCo, and the Changemaker program all make their own contributions to the world outside of UWC.
What makes UWC Atlantic so distinct from other schools is its student body. The bonds we share with one another are incomparable to anything we have ever experienced before. Living with three other people from vastly different parts of the world completely redefines the idea of compromise. They become like your siblings, people who cheer you on when you are at your best and even continue to do so at your worst. These are the friends that you keep for a lifetime, simply because you share so many experiences in such a short space of time. These friendships, ever-changing, are perhaps one of the most valuable things you take with you after graduating.
We were thrust out of our comfort zones the moment we drove into the campus in the coach, greeted by our second years banging pots and pans, roaring with joy and excitement. At UWC Atlantic, we are stripped down to our rawest, truest self, a self that many of us did not know we had. Our ability to tolerate the unfamiliar and adapt to the new environment is put to the test with every passing minute. UWC Atlantic redefines you, and that is what makes it special. You learn more about yourself than you have seen before, and you come out an entirely different person, a person who has grown and developed and is ready to take on challenges they could never have envisioned before.
There are numerous aspects of the experience which are special to me, and unattainable at any other school. The tempestuous seafront is used for various sporting events, or just as a means to escape from the more academic, and in some ways, overwhelming side of UWC. Or the magnificent castle which to this day leaves me in a state of awe every time I pass it. Or the luscious gardens, which are rendered somehow more idyllic in the rare case where the sun is out. These facilities are all incredibly special and breathtaking, and one never truly gets used to them. However, these are not the only things that make the UWC Atlantic experience unforgettable.
One other factor that sets UWC Atlantic apart from other boarding schools is its student-imposed culture. Ranging from the ‘first year camp’ with the ever-iconic “Dancing in the Moonlight”, which acts as its theme song, to Toga Day, where the second years come wrapped in bedsheets, UWC Atlantic traditions have always been an integral part of its culture. They evoke a feeling of being a small yet indispensable part of a much larger whole, a whole which will continue to live on as more UWC students experience what we have. Traditions give each UWC its own distinct flavour, its individuality, yet something to unite generations of UWC students.
The small things at UWC Atlantic are what make it so special. Such seemingly simplistic pleasures as sinking your teeth into a golden hash brown at brunch, the beautiful sunrises above the ocean horizon, or simply the act of walking to class, or running to the dining hall in the rain, while doing your utmost to stay as dry as possible. These simple moments are the ones that really give UWC Atlantic its charm. The immense variety of clubs, councils, and groups at UWC Atlantic allow for all students to discover their passion, bond with others who share such a passion and thus make a change in the world. Things like Lighthouse, PeaCo, and the Changemaker program all make their own contributions to the world outside of UWC.
What makes UWC Atlantic so distinct from other schools is its student body. The bonds we share with one another are incomparable to anything we have ever experienced before. Living with three other people from vastly different parts of the world completely redefines the idea of compromise. They become like your siblings, people who cheer you on when you are at your best and even continue to do so at your worst. These are the friends that you keep for a lifetime, simply because you share so many experiences in such a short space of time. These friendships, ever-changing, are perhaps one of the most valuable things you take with you after graduating.
We were thrust out of our comfort zones the moment we drove into the campus in the coach, greeted by our second years banging pots and pans, roaring with joy and excitement. At UWC Atlantic, we are stripped down to our rawest, truest self, a self that many of us did not know we had. Our ability to tolerate the unfamiliar and adapt to the new environment is put to the test with every passing minute. UWC Atlantic redefines you, and that is what makes it special. You learn more about yourself than you have seen before, and you come out an entirely different person, a person who has grown and developed and is ready to take on challenges they could never have envisioned before.
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