Bringing the World Together

Our IB curriculum is enriched by the fact that we are in a UWC. In Economics class, we often share different policies from our own countries and discuss the implication of these policies. In Geography calss, every class is like a MUN conference with peers representing a dozen different countries. Sometimes I take something for granted and believe it is the absolute truth, but often my classmates provide a totally different viewpoint, challenging my previous assumptions, provide more possibilities to consider. With peers from all over the world, not only can we have an overview of global issues, but we can also get a local's perspective on a specific issue, allowing us to dive further. Thus, we are able to connect and apply theoretical knowledge to the real world.

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Residential Life

I couldn't imagine what my UWC life would look like without the fact that it is also a residential community. I had such a great time just by bonding with my roommates alone! Three years in UWC has given me the opportunity to know the Netherlands, Myanmar, Mexico, and Ukraine a little bit more. Room dinners and late-night conversations have allowed us to bond closely and become close friends. A simple question or comment can spark an hour-long discussion, sometimes it's a serious discussion about global issues, sometimes it's a laughter while we enjoy sharing our childhood anecdotes.

On the house level, we have more activities. Our house "initiation" ceremony was to wake everyone up in midnight and bring them to Yushan Academy to look at sunrise and take a vow to a guinea pig. We fought together in UWC Olympics, we rehearsed together for the karaoke night, and we bonded over our house tea time and screaming after check-in.

Outside of house, other events bring the whole community together, such as Open Mic, Faculty Follies Show, Art 88, Cultural weeks, etc. They provide a platform for everyone to share their talents and stories. I don't even remember how many times I have been amazed at how talented my peers are and how many times I have approached them and said, "Hey this is so cool, can you teach me that?" This is UWC, a place where we can interact and share our ideas freely.

Mini-UWC organisers

Boundless Community

Gaining a fabulous UWC experience is not enough, as we aim to give back to our local communities and promote the UWC movement. Thanks to our school's Zhixing program, I was able to build my team and organize Mini-UWC Summer Program and TEDx events. To me, these events are significant as they mean that even as high school students we can make some changes happen. When we cultivate the habit of changing instead of only talking or complaining, we will make changes years later when we have more resources and skills.

Changshu Challenge

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