Gurtej Singh Bhamra, Grade 11
UWCEA Moshi Campus
In 2019, International School Moshi (ISM) became UWC East Africa (UWCEA), the 2nd UWC in Africa, and the 18th worldwide. Being a student at ISM, I was both excited and sceptical about this change. I was excited because our school would now be recognized as part of UWC. On the other hand, I was also sceptical about this change. First, the ISM school name, which stood strong for 50 years, would be replaced. Also, more prominently, I was afraid that the school would lose its traditions and cultures with all the new students, teachers, and values being put forward. Little did I know what was to come…
On the first day of school, I was both amazed and slightly intimidated to see a new wave of students. What surprised me more was that these students came from different parts of the world, such as Syria, Italy, and Brazil, to name a few. Initially, I believed that these students had different perceptions and expectations from mine. However, as I got to know them, I realised that they just wanted to fit in, like me. Granted that I was only in M3 (Grade 8) at the time and a majority of the new UWC students were enrolled in IB1 (Grade 11), the change was felt through all-year groups. We mingled during sports practices, service activities, outdoor pursuits trips, and other school events.
As the weeks went on, I started to see how open-minded and relatable everyone was, despite having different backgrounds. I remember the first football game of the school year, which was also the first time that I played for the senior team. Coming off the bench, I was very nervous, but still eager to make an impression. After being given a free kick, the ball slipped out of the keeper’s reach and rebounded towards me. Luckily, I taped it in from within the box, and the crowd burst. It was a monumental moment for me in football. However, what surprised me the most was how my peers were just as ecstatic as me when I scored that goal. From this, I realised that my peers who I barely knew, were supportive individuals.
To conclude, when ISM became part of UWCEA, initially I thought that the legacy of ISM would be forgotten. However, now whenever you hear UWCEA, you also hear ISM. This unison has led to a more valuable outcome, by creating a greater understanding of the diverse cultures from around the world. As Lester B. Pearson, former Canadian Prime Minister, quotes “How can there be peace without people understanding each other; and how can this be if they don’t know each other?”. In essence, UWC connects individuals from different cultures and nations to flourish and create a more peaceful and unified world.
On the first day of school, I was both amazed and slightly intimidated to see a new wave of students. What surprised me more was that these students came from different parts of the world, such as Syria, Italy, and Brazil, to name a few. Initially, I believed that these students had different perceptions and expectations from mine. However, as I got to know them, I realised that they just wanted to fit in, like me. Granted that I was only in M3 (Grade 8) at the time and a majority of the new UWC students were enrolled in IB1 (Grade 11), the change was felt through all-year groups. We mingled during sports practices, service activities, outdoor pursuits trips, and other school events.
As the weeks went on, I started to see how open-minded and relatable everyone was, despite having different backgrounds. I remember the first football game of the school year, which was also the first time that I played for the senior team. Coming off the bench, I was very nervous, but still eager to make an impression. After being given a free kick, the ball slipped out of the keeper’s reach and rebounded towards me. Luckily, I taped it in from within the box, and the crowd burst. It was a monumental moment for me in football. However, what surprised me the most was how my peers were just as ecstatic as me when I scored that goal. From this, I realised that my peers who I barely knew, were supportive individuals.
To conclude, when ISM became part of UWCEA, initially I thought that the legacy of ISM would be forgotten. However, now whenever you hear UWCEA, you also hear ISM. This unison has led to a more valuable outcome, by creating a greater understanding of the diverse cultures from around the world. As Lester B. Pearson, former Canadian Prime Minister, quotes “How can there be peace without people understanding each other; and how can this be if they don’t know each other?”. In essence, UWC connects individuals from different cultures and nations to flourish and create a more peaceful and unified world.
www.unitedworldwide.co