Garv Chadha, Grade 11
UWCEA (Arusha)
It’s my first year at a new school, UWC is what it’s called. Here is my first impression…
I recently participated in an orientation week with all of the D1’s at UWCEA – Arusha. At first, I was worried about transferring schools; it was a hefty risk for me as I shifted curriculums. ‘Risk Everything,’ they say. Is it worth it? When I first heard about ‘UWC,’ I wondered, what makes that different from my school? Is it their values and aims, or is it just the name? August 14th, it began - the first day of school, orientation week. At first, I was slightly worried about meeting all new students as it was my first day here. As my heart pounded, getting closer and closer to the school entrance, I was both anxious and excited to meet everyone. I walked into the school, and I greeted some of the teachers. I almost felt at home due to a warm welcome, and I also noticed that everyone was just as anxious as I was!
The school was (and still is) filled with diversity as there were people from all over the world. The name itself, United World Colleges, was well represented during the activities. We then played games to learn about each and everyone’s culture as well as bond with others. It showed me that the world was much bigger than I thought. People I met were from across the globe, some traveling from South America to East Africa, a hefty distance. My first experience at UWC was amazing as it was filled with diversity and still is now. The mission of UWC is to make education a force to unite people.
The orientation weekend reminded me of a time I was at a golf tournament in Scotland. There were people from all over the world for similar purposes. I met a lot of people, all with different interests and likes; for example, some had interests such as basketball, and others would prefer soccer. The orientation was held over a weekend, and I specifically remember meeting some of the D2’s who guided us and helped us settle in with others. It was something new for me, which was fun for the most part.
‘So, what do you think it means to be in a UWC?’ I was asked this question by a D2, and it made me think. What does it mean to be in a school? The question stuck with me for a while. I thought to myself, how significant is it to be in a UWC? I later learned that the students themselves shape their own experience into a UWC. This is regarding every UWC, the experience is the people around you. Being surrounded by people from different cultures and backgrounds is a very amazing experience as it allows everyone to learn about different nations and overall. We are taught how to live together and study together despite our differences, which is something I am very grateful for.
My experience was like no other. I could feel myself improve as a person due to increased communication skills. Meeting new people is a lot easier nowadays, which a great skill to gain. Moreover, the people I was around taught me that hard work brings good results.
Overall, I learned that UWC is an amazing experience as it pushes you outside of your comfort zone. The experiences I have had now make me want to try more things, including new languages as well as other Co-Curricular Activities.
I recently participated in an orientation week with all of the D1’s at UWCEA – Arusha. At first, I was worried about transferring schools; it was a hefty risk for me as I shifted curriculums. ‘Risk Everything,’ they say. Is it worth it? When I first heard about ‘UWC,’ I wondered, what makes that different from my school? Is it their values and aims, or is it just the name? August 14th, it began - the first day of school, orientation week. At first, I was slightly worried about meeting all new students as it was my first day here. As my heart pounded, getting closer and closer to the school entrance, I was both anxious and excited to meet everyone. I walked into the school, and I greeted some of the teachers. I almost felt at home due to a warm welcome, and I also noticed that everyone was just as anxious as I was!
The school was (and still is) filled with diversity as there were people from all over the world. The name itself, United World Colleges, was well represented during the activities. We then played games to learn about each and everyone’s culture as well as bond with others. It showed me that the world was much bigger than I thought. People I met were from across the globe, some traveling from South America to East Africa, a hefty distance. My first experience at UWC was amazing as it was filled with diversity and still is now. The mission of UWC is to make education a force to unite people.
The orientation weekend reminded me of a time I was at a golf tournament in Scotland. There were people from all over the world for similar purposes. I met a lot of people, all with different interests and likes; for example, some had interests such as basketball, and others would prefer soccer. The orientation was held over a weekend, and I specifically remember meeting some of the D2’s who guided us and helped us settle in with others. It was something new for me, which was fun for the most part.
‘So, what do you think it means to be in a UWC?’ I was asked this question by a D2, and it made me think. What does it mean to be in a school? The question stuck with me for a while. I thought to myself, how significant is it to be in a UWC? I later learned that the students themselves shape their own experience into a UWC. This is regarding every UWC, the experience is the people around you. Being surrounded by people from different cultures and backgrounds is a very amazing experience as it allows everyone to learn about different nations and overall. We are taught how to live together and study together despite our differences, which is something I am very grateful for.
My experience was like no other. I could feel myself improve as a person due to increased communication skills. Meeting new people is a lot easier nowadays, which a great skill to gain. Moreover, the people I was around taught me that hard work brings good results.
Overall, I learned that UWC is an amazing experience as it pushes you outside of your comfort zone. The experiences I have had now make me want to try more things, including new languages as well as other Co-Curricular Activities.
www.unitedworldwide.co