Marija Panova, Grade 11
UWC Mostar
“The UWC movement aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future”
The first time I read the mission statement, a feeling of curiosity and cynical pessimism shoved its way to the forefront of my mind. Peace and a sustainable future? In today’s ethos? I scoffed at the idea, very skeptical of the probability of success. However, aside from sardonic pessimism and the relatable teenage need to be “special” and “edgy”, a tiny voice in me dwarfed them both. A voice of hope and interest, what if it was true? What if the mission was not as far-fetched as it seemed at first glance? With reluctant hope and intense curiosity about the accuracy of the statement, I decided to apply, unknowingly opening the door to a new, unforgettable chapter of my life, where I would soon discover the true meaning of the peculiar mission statement.
The first months of UWC were exhilarating. A new environment and continuous stream of activities are an amazing way to distract oneself from the peculiarities of reality. From tests and school events to jam sessions and tutor group coffee meetings, I managed to sneak a glimpse at the meaning of the mission statement. At what seemed to be the speed of light, the whole community seemed to become close and accepting, first years and second years alike being as thick as thieves, always eager to spend time together and learn from each other. A utopian blur, one could say. The beautiful inception was enough to satiate my thirst for understanding the motto, blindsiding me completely to the inevitable crash that always seems to follow.
Comfort, warmth and welcoming - three words I definitely would not use to describe the beginning of the second term. After the manic high of the first term, three months jam-packed with an intoxicating combination of busy schedules and friends, the crash that followed was felt thrice as deleterious. The middle of January was cold and dark, the air icy, dry and suffocating .Visiting home turned out to be the catalyst for the sharp stab of reality that followed. The rosiness accompanying the familiarity of home effectively shattered the shallow illusion of joy I had earlier felt. The assignments that seemed interesting and enjoyable at the beginning turned cruel and fickle in my eyes, the kind teachers that seemed to be understanding at the beginning, quickly morphed into egotistical and unforgiving deities, passing ruthless judgement on the students, mere mortals beneath their feet. My little bubble of happiness burst right in front of my eyes, jerking me right back into reality. I was losing hope, the chatter of my peers seemed banal and mundane, the tests tedious and bothersome, everything seemed so dull and grey. Homesickness proved itself to be a dangerous concept, a demotivating beast. My sentiment was likely shared by my fellow classmates, as what happened next fully cemented my trust in the intention of the mission statement.
On a gloomy Tuesday afternoon, the whole student body received an email. Nothing quite out of the ordinary, right? Well, what made this email so peculiar was its subject matter – “Homesickness Event”. Reading on, I found myself intrigued. It would be a relaxing evening event at a popular local café, free snacks and drinks promised (likely to increase the numbers of attendees?), full of music and community-building activities. At a glance, it seemed quite ordinary, quite like jam sessions or poetry nights. But something felt different. Despite feeling indifferent at first, a little inkling in the pit of my stomach convinced me to attend. Very cliché, I am aware. When I arrived, my questions were answered. The following three hours answered my existential questions surrounding the motto, putting an end to my cynicism surrounding the probability of success in the mission statement. Students from all over the world joined together, sharing deeply intimate thoughts with each other. Everyone was united in their feeling of longing and nostalgia, opening up about everything, from their darkest thoughts to their happiest memories. The whole room was united in tender harmony, gentle and kind, the atmosphere unlike anything I had witnessed before.
The effects of the event were exceedingly positive, further confirming the possibility of the mission statement. Through this event, the genuineness of UWC shone. Through the homesickness event, I got a few steps closer to fully understanding the meaning of the mission statement. The event further solidified the notion that a peaceful society could be attained through effort, patience, and an open mind. The atmosphere of pure tenderness and quiet understanding served as a testament to the shared complexities of the human condition, showing how no matter what the details of one’s existence are, most people, if not all, are able to relate to concepts such as homesickness and nostalgia. In my experience, the UWC movement is a party of caring and interesting individuals, a grouping characterized by kindness and mutual understanding. Through the unique coexistence within the bounds of the school and the movement itself, each member of the UWC movement is exposed to and set on a path of self-betterment. It aids in their development into fully rounded empathetic members of society, aiding creation of the leaders of tomorrow as well as giving humanity hope for a brighter future.
The first time I read the mission statement, a feeling of curiosity and cynical pessimism shoved its way to the forefront of my mind. Peace and a sustainable future? In today’s ethos? I scoffed at the idea, very skeptical of the probability of success. However, aside from sardonic pessimism and the relatable teenage need to be “special” and “edgy”, a tiny voice in me dwarfed them both. A voice of hope and interest, what if it was true? What if the mission was not as far-fetched as it seemed at first glance? With reluctant hope and intense curiosity about the accuracy of the statement, I decided to apply, unknowingly opening the door to a new, unforgettable chapter of my life, where I would soon discover the true meaning of the peculiar mission statement.
The first months of UWC were exhilarating. A new environment and continuous stream of activities are an amazing way to distract oneself from the peculiarities of reality. From tests and school events to jam sessions and tutor group coffee meetings, I managed to sneak a glimpse at the meaning of the mission statement. At what seemed to be the speed of light, the whole community seemed to become close and accepting, first years and second years alike being as thick as thieves, always eager to spend time together and learn from each other. A utopian blur, one could say. The beautiful inception was enough to satiate my thirst for understanding the motto, blindsiding me completely to the inevitable crash that always seems to follow.
Comfort, warmth and welcoming - three words I definitely would not use to describe the beginning of the second term. After the manic high of the first term, three months jam-packed with an intoxicating combination of busy schedules and friends, the crash that followed was felt thrice as deleterious. The middle of January was cold and dark, the air icy, dry and suffocating .Visiting home turned out to be the catalyst for the sharp stab of reality that followed. The rosiness accompanying the familiarity of home effectively shattered the shallow illusion of joy I had earlier felt. The assignments that seemed interesting and enjoyable at the beginning turned cruel and fickle in my eyes, the kind teachers that seemed to be understanding at the beginning, quickly morphed into egotistical and unforgiving deities, passing ruthless judgement on the students, mere mortals beneath their feet. My little bubble of happiness burst right in front of my eyes, jerking me right back into reality. I was losing hope, the chatter of my peers seemed banal and mundane, the tests tedious and bothersome, everything seemed so dull and grey. Homesickness proved itself to be a dangerous concept, a demotivating beast. My sentiment was likely shared by my fellow classmates, as what happened next fully cemented my trust in the intention of the mission statement.
On a gloomy Tuesday afternoon, the whole student body received an email. Nothing quite out of the ordinary, right? Well, what made this email so peculiar was its subject matter – “Homesickness Event”. Reading on, I found myself intrigued. It would be a relaxing evening event at a popular local café, free snacks and drinks promised (likely to increase the numbers of attendees?), full of music and community-building activities. At a glance, it seemed quite ordinary, quite like jam sessions or poetry nights. But something felt different. Despite feeling indifferent at first, a little inkling in the pit of my stomach convinced me to attend. Very cliché, I am aware. When I arrived, my questions were answered. The following three hours answered my existential questions surrounding the motto, putting an end to my cynicism surrounding the probability of success in the mission statement. Students from all over the world joined together, sharing deeply intimate thoughts with each other. Everyone was united in their feeling of longing and nostalgia, opening up about everything, from their darkest thoughts to their happiest memories. The whole room was united in tender harmony, gentle and kind, the atmosphere unlike anything I had witnessed before.
The effects of the event were exceedingly positive, further confirming the possibility of the mission statement. Through this event, the genuineness of UWC shone. Through the homesickness event, I got a few steps closer to fully understanding the meaning of the mission statement. The event further solidified the notion that a peaceful society could be attained through effort, patience, and an open mind. The atmosphere of pure tenderness and quiet understanding served as a testament to the shared complexities of the human condition, showing how no matter what the details of one’s existence are, most people, if not all, are able to relate to concepts such as homesickness and nostalgia. In my experience, the UWC movement is a party of caring and interesting individuals, a grouping characterized by kindness and mutual understanding. Through the unique coexistence within the bounds of the school and the movement itself, each member of the UWC movement is exposed to and set on a path of self-betterment. It aids in their development into fully rounded empathetic members of society, aiding creation of the leaders of tomorrow as well as giving humanity hope for a brighter future.
www.unitedworldwide.co