Mia Marinović, Grade 12
UWC Mostar
I have grown up in a country that is still growing and developing. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a post-war nation, still living with the consequences of what happened in the early nineties. Three nations, and religions, coexisting in one beautiful yet tortured land. As the economy and tourism are being repaired, people forget to repair their relationships. That is why young people, such as myself, grow up surrounded by hate and segregation. The cultures and traditions are not intertwining and thriving together, but are kept strictly separated. Generations are being raised with anger and spite, thought to stay with their ‘own people’.
Personally, this was not what my parents believed, or wanted me to believe. They let me know, everybody was equal to me; I should never consider myself better or worse than someone else. Despite being aware of this myself, it was hard to go to school every day, being surrounded by people who had no intention of leaving the little bubble we were in—the bubble filled with prejudice and judgment towards anything outside of it. Sadly, most schools in my country were similar; they kept to their own people, and refused to interact with those who had a passport unlike their own, or celebrated a different religious holiday. The people refused to mix, and the schools do not mind it; they do not even encourage it.
What fascinated me most in all those years was traveling, visiting my family who lived far away. I got to see an entirely different world—one where cultures coexisted and blossomed by living in sync with others. I dreamed of living in a world like that. That’s when something wonderful happened – I discovered United World College. Even better, there was one in my home town – United World College in Mostar.
Right then and there, I decided my biggest goal was to become a part of this movement, which took every feeling and need I held for a loving community and made it into a reality. Not only did it welcome and become home for students all across the globe, but most importantly, it united the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The new generations of all three nationalities were together, sharing a residence, sharing a class, sharing a laugh. United World College gave us all an opportunity to step out of the comfort zone that was created for us and taught us how many amazing people and experiences are waiting outside of it. That is what made me choose this school.
Since I came here, there have been no disappointments. I have finally gotten a chance to set the past aside and enjoy the present with my friends – no matter their ancestors. By breaking the barrier that was created for us even before we were born, we are building a whole new world for the generations that are coming after us. In the small moments where I drink coffee with my friends, is when I am truly reminded of UWC values and comprehend the meaning of a community. To answer, UWC, to me, is not just a school. It is everything I wish the future of this country to be - peace and love within diversity. That is what makes it special.
Personally, this was not what my parents believed, or wanted me to believe. They let me know, everybody was equal to me; I should never consider myself better or worse than someone else. Despite being aware of this myself, it was hard to go to school every day, being surrounded by people who had no intention of leaving the little bubble we were in—the bubble filled with prejudice and judgment towards anything outside of it. Sadly, most schools in my country were similar; they kept to their own people, and refused to interact with those who had a passport unlike their own, or celebrated a different religious holiday. The people refused to mix, and the schools do not mind it; they do not even encourage it.
What fascinated me most in all those years was traveling, visiting my family who lived far away. I got to see an entirely different world—one where cultures coexisted and blossomed by living in sync with others. I dreamed of living in a world like that. That’s when something wonderful happened – I discovered United World College. Even better, there was one in my home town – United World College in Mostar.
Right then and there, I decided my biggest goal was to become a part of this movement, which took every feeling and need I held for a loving community and made it into a reality. Not only did it welcome and become home for students all across the globe, but most importantly, it united the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The new generations of all three nationalities were together, sharing a residence, sharing a class, sharing a laugh. United World College gave us all an opportunity to step out of the comfort zone that was created for us and taught us how many amazing people and experiences are waiting outside of it. That is what made me choose this school.
Since I came here, there have been no disappointments. I have finally gotten a chance to set the past aside and enjoy the present with my friends – no matter their ancestors. By breaking the barrier that was created for us even before we were born, we are building a whole new world for the generations that are coming after us. In the small moments where I drink coffee with my friends, is when I am truly reminded of UWC values and comprehend the meaning of a community. To answer, UWC, to me, is not just a school. It is everything I wish the future of this country to be - peace and love within diversity. That is what makes it special.
www.unitedworldwide.co