On the sunny Lantern Festival weekend in 2017, UWC Changshu China (UWCCSC) held its second annual Selection Day at its picturesque campus. UWCCSC has been most grateful for the great support by over 40 alumni volunteers coming all the way by plane or train at their own cost. It is our pleasure to invite one of them to share with us what she has learned as a UWC volunteer.

Looking back on the Challenge Day in Hong Kong 13 years ago, I am still full of heartfelt joy with vivid memories. I was impressed by the intercultural diversity of UWC, fun selection activities and alumni volunteers who have sacrificed their Sundays just for us. One very moment for which I felt most grateful would be at the interview challenge section. I stepped into the interview station with nervousness. At the same time, I was looking forward to talking to alumni as I only happened to know UWC the day before the application deadline. One of the alumni volunteers started the interview with these inspiring words -- “Just be yourself. Just come as you are.” Hearing that, I was much more relieved, being able to enjoy the entire conversation with the two alumni interviewers afterwards.

I have always been very curious about what drives their motivation to devote so much of their time and efforts on a voluntary basis despite their busy schedules. Talking about the size of the volunteer group at that time, it was around 70. I was completely overwhelmed by their response for which such mission comes from the very bottom of their hearts. Having experienced a lot on the Challenge Day, I was further convinced that this was the perfect place for me to pursue my dreams and ideals. Given my family’s difficult financial situation, I have always been grateful to UWC Hong Kong for its scholarship, for opening my horizon to sparkle off my UWC journey and let my dream fly high.

This year is the 10th anniversary since I graduated from UWC. Looking back and having reflected much, I appreciate even more this life-changing UWC education I have experienced. I have become much more independent while embracing team work as a community. I also appreciate even more the celebration of differences and the stronger enthusiasm to learn. Across these years, post UWC education based on shared learning, collaboration and understanding further motivates me to care for community issues, no matter at local or world level. With courage and UWC experiences, I came to a true understanding of the responsibility for everything I do and every decision I make.

Having been involved in different parts of the selection of students for the past years, I challenged myself to take up the role of the Selection Support Director of UWC Hong Kong on a voluntary basis in cooperation with the Admission Director of LPCUWC. I have been witnessing the transformation of many students no matter in LPCUWC or in other overseas UWCs as ambassadors from Hong Kong. Selection support has brought me tremendous joy and passion. Such passion further mounted up with caring for some of the alumni volunteers. I am proud of their international understanding and celebration of diversity being put into practice. 

Alumni of LPCUWC (Season Ho, first row, second from right)

To me, UWC education is not just only about hunger for academic knowledge or theories, it is also about helping students find their dreams, inspiring them to be change-makers to thecommunities around them and cultivating their sense of responsibility in this rapidly changing era that we need to keep pace with. My UWC vision would be to live out the UWC spirit, to be part of the people to shed lights to more young people and their families, in hope of the butterfly effect for the spread of UWC spirit. 

And I believe this UWC spirit should be boundless. As soon as I heard about the calling of volunteer assistance from UWCCSC, I sent across this message to other alumni in Hong Kong and encouraged them to join in for support. I think it is of great joy for every member of UWC to make a contribution to our big family. Such passion pulls us all together so that the UWC values are passed down from generation to generation.

Improvisation by prospective students

During this Selection weekend, I was so happy to meet my UWC mother named Li Ping, who is currently serving as the Vice Principal and Chinese Programme Director in UWCCSC. She was my tutor back then in LPCUWC. I also got to see my Maths teacher named Mr. Lee Kokming, who is currently the Head of Math Department in UWCCSC. Though working in different roles, we are happy that we are carrying on our passion to do our best to make our contribution to UWC. I also had the opportunity to share my thoughts with the founders of UWCCSC and national committee members which made my trip even much valuable and rewarding.

Ms. Li Ping and Season 

Alumni of LPCUWC and  Mr. Lee Kokming  

I felt grateful to be able to be in this alumni group, who shared the same UWC belief and travelled afar from different parts of the world as volunteers at our own expense just for the Selection Weekend. For the every pause and reflection that I have made after each Selection, it brought me different insights and strength. Currently, UWC has over 155 national committees and more than 3,000 volunteers all over the world. Some of them even risk their lives to get to countries at war to select prospective students, among whom, very sadly, one lost his life in Afghanistan a few years ago.

Staff, teachers and alumni

I was also extremely grateful to those who firmly believe in and advocate UWC values, either by supporting us with scholarship or by contributing as volunteers. And I am never alone with such a large group of passionate UWC volunteers. In the words of Kurt Hahn, UWC founder, “There is more in you than you think." To me, my world is not limited to the things I knew from books nor friends that I have met. It is all about being conscious of our own responsibilities and setting personal examples to care for the communities around us at different levels in UWC spirit. Today, as one of the UWC alumni volunteers, I finally understand the true meaning of the UWC spirit and the sense of mission as indicated by the alumni interviewers back 13 years ago.