Ama ObengSakyi, Grade 12
UWC Thailand
My name is Ama, I’m from Ghana and recently turned 18. I go to UWC Thailand, although I was originally supposed to go to UWC ISAK. I started my UWCT journey in February 2022 and finished the academic year in June. To commemorate our last week as G11’s and our last week with our 2 head houseparents (they were leaving UWC), they took us on a compulsory “mystery” trip.
The surprise was ruined when they told us to bring specific items that screamed “Beach Trip!”, but of course we couldn’t blame them-they had to be the “responsible” parents. I’ll be clear right now - I do not like the beach. It’s the sand, it gets everywhere, and I mean, everywhere. I would happily go to a beach with no sand. We’re packed in rented taxis and head over to the mystery location.
When we arrive, we’re just at the car park, with no beach in sight. And as hormonal teenagers that also happen to be IB students, we stood around the car park and spoke loudly over each other in confusion. Someone finds a path between some shrubs and we all follow like little school kids, we follow that path to reveal the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. It looked like a magnificent piece of art, the sand was soft, I mean, how can sand be soft? The way the sky fell over the sea as it came forth in gentle waves, the sky painted in swirls of orange and blue, the sun sitting on the waves as if it was taking rest on the ocean itself. The scene was breathtaking.
Everyone is now calm, walking around, talking, sitting while talking. One of the houseparents - there are 5 mind you - starts to pass sheets of paper, a pen and an envelope around. She said, write something you would like to say to the firsties for next year. I write about how I’m currently at the beach and yet I hate the beach, how UWC made me meet all kinds of people I never would have considered to exist, wishing them the best of luck, and to look for a midget from Ghana when they arrive. We then move on to beach things, some people - half the group - immediately strip to reveal the secret bikinis and trunks underneath and jump into the ocean. Me and my friend, Kama (Kama and Ama get it?), stand just where the waves gently kiss the sand, to admire the sky. The waves decide to slap us instead of kissing our feet like it did before. As we’re laughing and running away, hugging, someone taking pictures of us - we asked them to - I look around. Everyone’s getting along, laughing, eating, houseparents included (all 5) some swimming after the short ones who the sea thought were sacrifices and was dragging them away - I saw how united we were.
We went through so much, transferring, making new friends, tensions after a particularly nasty day, I looked at how far we’d come to be here at this exact moment. Happy, and feeling the love we had for each other emanated, I realised this was what UWC was about. Us, taking on the world, picking each other up as we go.
The surprise was ruined when they told us to bring specific items that screamed “Beach Trip!”, but of course we couldn’t blame them-they had to be the “responsible” parents. I’ll be clear right now - I do not like the beach. It’s the sand, it gets everywhere, and I mean, everywhere. I would happily go to a beach with no sand. We’re packed in rented taxis and head over to the mystery location.
When we arrive, we’re just at the car park, with no beach in sight. And as hormonal teenagers that also happen to be IB students, we stood around the car park and spoke loudly over each other in confusion. Someone finds a path between some shrubs and we all follow like little school kids, we follow that path to reveal the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. It looked like a magnificent piece of art, the sand was soft, I mean, how can sand be soft? The way the sky fell over the sea as it came forth in gentle waves, the sky painted in swirls of orange and blue, the sun sitting on the waves as if it was taking rest on the ocean itself. The scene was breathtaking.
Everyone is now calm, walking around, talking, sitting while talking. One of the houseparents - there are 5 mind you - starts to pass sheets of paper, a pen and an envelope around. She said, write something you would like to say to the firsties for next year. I write about how I’m currently at the beach and yet I hate the beach, how UWC made me meet all kinds of people I never would have considered to exist, wishing them the best of luck, and to look for a midget from Ghana when they arrive. We then move on to beach things, some people - half the group - immediately strip to reveal the secret bikinis and trunks underneath and jump into the ocean. Me and my friend, Kama (Kama and Ama get it?), stand just where the waves gently kiss the sand, to admire the sky. The waves decide to slap us instead of kissing our feet like it did before. As we’re laughing and running away, hugging, someone taking pictures of us - we asked them to - I look around. Everyone’s getting along, laughing, eating, houseparents included (all 5) some swimming after the short ones who the sea thought were sacrifices and was dragging them away - I saw how united we were.
We went through so much, transferring, making new friends, tensions after a particularly nasty day, I looked at how far we’d come to be here at this exact moment. Happy, and feeling the love we had for each other emanated, I realised this was what UWC was about. Us, taking on the world, picking each other up as we go.
www.unitedworldwide.co