Wadana Kakakhel, Grade 12
UWCEA Moshi Campus
It becomes so easy to lose track of time at UWC. Every second of the day seems to be about the next thing you check off an eternal list: school events, tests for the next day, CAS meetings, endless deadlines to meet, and not to forget, the constant urge to be around people to form all the memories you can before the two years become a thing of the past. What makes it so special is everything we manage to squeeze into that seemingly long but actually incredibly short amount of time. One specific moment that really felt like UWC in its purest form was Graduation Day.
The morning kicked off with rehearsals of “I Lived” by OneRepublic on the rooftop of the art room. I was dreading this day because it meant goodbye was just around the corner, but the atmosphere buzzed with love and joy. After rehearsing for our performance for the D2s, we started singing random songs in the art room and at that moment, it felt like everything was going to be okay. How could it possibly not, when you were surrounded by such warm souls?
Looking back now, the day feels like a blur. When the graduation ceremony officially began, D2s started entering the hall in pairs and made their way towards the stage where a bold banner read “CLASS OF 2022”. Time flew as the DP Coordinator spoke about each student in the graduating class and the inside jokes and words of kindness warmed my heart. Everyone chuckled knowingly when certain traits about people were mentioned, the familiarity among them made it feel like a nostalgic family reminiscing over the good old days. Speeches were made, songs were sung, and before you know it, these words echoed through the hall:
“I present to you, UWC East Africa class of 2022!”
All the D2s stood up simultaneously and the audience broke out in applause. When everyone had gathered outside, everything turned into a blur of hugs and tears. I was overcome by a sense of deja vu because I had seen a video of the previous year’s graduation ceremony and that moment felt like watching the same movie with a different cast. People were taking pictures left and right, and there was a sense of closure in the air. The whole event made me dread the day I’d be graduating and having to say goodbye to people and places, but it made me realize how beautiful it was that everyone had people that made saying goodbye so hard.
To me, UWC is about connection and finding love amidst all the chaos. It is living with people from all over the world and realizing that regardless of all our differences, there are countless similarities to be found. There are intense emotional highs and lows, and every single moment leads to immense growth and a collection of fond memories. All the memories we make with each other and the awe that we experience while going through this journey together will always hold a special place in our hearts, no matter where we all end up afterwards.
The morning kicked off with rehearsals of “I Lived” by OneRepublic on the rooftop of the art room. I was dreading this day because it meant goodbye was just around the corner, but the atmosphere buzzed with love and joy. After rehearsing for our performance for the D2s, we started singing random songs in the art room and at that moment, it felt like everything was going to be okay. How could it possibly not, when you were surrounded by such warm souls?
Looking back now, the day feels like a blur. When the graduation ceremony officially began, D2s started entering the hall in pairs and made their way towards the stage where a bold banner read “CLASS OF 2022”. Time flew as the DP Coordinator spoke about each student in the graduating class and the inside jokes and words of kindness warmed my heart. Everyone chuckled knowingly when certain traits about people were mentioned, the familiarity among them made it feel like a nostalgic family reminiscing over the good old days. Speeches were made, songs were sung, and before you know it, these words echoed through the hall:
“I present to you, UWC East Africa class of 2022!”
All the D2s stood up simultaneously and the audience broke out in applause. When everyone had gathered outside, everything turned into a blur of hugs and tears. I was overcome by a sense of deja vu because I had seen a video of the previous year’s graduation ceremony and that moment felt like watching the same movie with a different cast. People were taking pictures left and right, and there was a sense of closure in the air. The whole event made me dread the day I’d be graduating and having to say goodbye to people and places, but it made me realize how beautiful it was that everyone had people that made saying goodbye so hard.
To me, UWC is about connection and finding love amidst all the chaos. It is living with people from all over the world and realizing that regardless of all our differences, there are countless similarities to be found. There are intense emotional highs and lows, and every single moment leads to immense growth and a collection of fond memories. All the memories we make with each other and the awe that we experience while going through this journey together will always hold a special place in our hearts, no matter where we all end up afterwards.
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