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there are countless more activities that I join spon-taneously. UWC is an opportunity to be involved,the spirit and buzzing atmosphere is something thatI will now always carry with me.

There of course have been tough moments, mostlydue to the greatly dreaded, IB! Juggling academicsand everything else is tricky, to say the least. Mysubjects this year are higher level English, DesignTechnology and Art and standard level maths stud-ies, peace and conflict studies and French ab initio.The classes, or codes as we call them, all ingrain afurther sense of the ideals of UWC.Discussions are always lively in codes; even on themany cold welsh mornings.

Since being at Atlantic College, I have travelledmuch. I have been to Norway, Rome, Turkey, Parisand Amsterdam. I went on a cultural tour of Rome

for project week, while Norway, Paris and Amster-dam were trips travelling with friends from college.Recently, I have been on a summer project in Turkey.A group of ten students from three different UWCsgathered together to help the area and people ofVan. Van is in an area in the east of turkey that wasseverely damaged by an earthquake six months ago.Our goal was to contribute in some way to the peo-ple of Van and we did this by educating children, butsubsequently adults about different cultures andalso about the environment. The project was chaoticto organize and execute because of the governmentauthorities and also often due to the generous butoverbearing hospitality of the people. We visitedschools, teaching English and also educating andintroducing people to other cultures. Often, thesight of the ten students walking along the streetwas enough. People approached us eagerly and werefascinated about where we were from. The accom-modation was in housing containers, it was roughbut it gave me further insight into the reality ofhow people are living in Van at the moment.

This is only a short insight into what this year hasgiven me, or rather what I have taken from thissignificant year. However, nothing is over yet, theescapades will go on.

A daring adventure is barely the term ade-quate enough to describe my indescribable first yearexperience at United World College of the Atlantic.

The year began with youthful enthusiasm and openeyes; ready to discover the world and accept a chal-lenge, a change. The journey of this challenge hasbeen valued and appreciated only by completelydevoting, trying and putting effort into my time atAC. However, alongside all the intense seriousnessat Atlantic College, this strange and beautiful yearhas been gratefully enjoyed alongside many specialfriendships made from 85 different countries. At-lantic College has not been purely about the thingsI have done; rather it has been about the people Ihave done them with.

The CAS program is very important and much of

what I have gained from these two terms is due toservice. I commit to four/six hours a week of socialservice. During first term I volunteered at JennerPark primary school helping children from ages 5-10who have learning difficulties. I assisted reading andwriting with the younger children and also workedwith an older group of children with art and science.Also during first term I was an active member ofSTAR (Student Action for Refugees). Each week forfour hours a group of eight students visited Cardiffand met and taught English to refugees and asylumseekers. In term two I continued volunteering at theprimary school and additionally I visit a home of a

lady who has multiple sclerosis and is blind. Serviceconstantly teaches and reminds me of the need tohelp deliberately and empathetically. Honestly, ser-vice is one of the most enjoyable aspects of UnitedWorld College.

I have participated in numerous activities this yearincluding Amnesty International, Model United Na-tions, Felt and Fashion making, beekeeping, photog-raphy activity, poetry activity, a Jamaican culturalactivity and Kurt Hahn experiential core activity.These are merely my official activities; beyond this

A daring adventure is barelythe term adequate enough todescribe my indescribable firstyear experience at United WorldCollege of the Atlantic.

Helena TanUWC Atlantic College of Wales

Melbourne, Victoria

...this strange and beautiful year has

been gratefully enjoyed alongside

many special friendships made from 85different countries.

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The moment I found that I was going to the ArmandHammer United World College of the AmericanWest, I knew that my life was about to undergo somany changes. What I didnt know, however, washow it was going to change.

I first began to notice changes in myself even beforeI arrived at the UWC. I put further more passion

into my community services, I was able to con-tribute more time into my hobbies, and I generallyworked harder in everything I did. But this was onlythe beginning.

I had never travelled overseas before; never havinghad the opportunity or money to do so, I had somany emotions running through my head. Emotionsof happiness, fear and excitement of the unknown,and hunger for what land mass lay beyond thePacific Ocean. This experience, along with the returnflight in May, has really conditioned me to travellinginternationally and via air.

The greatest change in me was from the 9 monthsat UWC. There were so many elements it came withthat shaped me. Coming from a rural environment,I was never around people as much as I was here.With people knocking on your door all time, despiteit being distraction to getting homework done, Ilearnt to be on top of my social game all the time.Having never had the chance to properly learn thesocial dynamics of other people than those froma country area, I developed so many social skills,learning how to cooperate and interact with anyperson from any background.

As a result of being around these other internationalstudents, I began to learn a lot about what back-ground they grew up in, and the issues they faced.Just one example was when I was there from myroommate from Afghanistan as he heard news fromhome that Kabul was bombed, where numerouspeople were killed. This developed a kind of empathywhich made me feel, REALLY feel, what sort of trou-bles he was going through and how he was feeling.UWC is a place that attaches a familiar and friendlyface to every country, and not a stereotype.As a result of the fore-mentioned experience, UWChas greatly changed the direction of my future

A daring adventure is barelythe term adequate enough todescribe my indescribable firstyear experience at United WorldCollege of the Atlantic.

Corey KirkhamUWC USAMildura, Victoria

UWC is a place thatattaches a familiar andfriendly face to everycountry...

career. Coming into this institution I was set uponscientific and mathematical research taking me toouter space, to becoming an astronaut. When ourcampus hosted the Annual Conference, I was in-spired by a certain story told by one of the guestspeakers. It was a story, a true story, which told of agroup of young architects who decided not to reapridiculous profits from designing expensive houses,but design a hospital in Africa Pro Bono. I immedi-ately wanted to become involved in something likethis, and after a while I began to realise my currenttalents and interests: mathematics, physics, eco-nomics, construction, and design. All these thingsI realised fit perfectly into leading a career in civilengineering. Having had my life changed by UWC,I now wish to become a civil engineer and do ProBono work in developing countries like Africa, all thewhile being a UWC advocate, living and promotingthe mission.

The lifestyle of living in the institution hardenedand conditioned me into living and coping with astressful environment. Not only was I able to keepup really good grades, but I was also able to giveback to the school community and the Las Vegascommunity at the same time. As a lover of physi-

cal activity, throughout the year I have developedthe fitness facilities into tip-top condition, withnumerous re-arrangements, and the ordering of newequipment. Along with this, I have organised andlead a fitness group, promoting a healthier way ofliving on campus. As for my involvement in the LasVegas community, I dedicated many more hoursthan the IB required of me to the building and con-struction of homes for low income families. Thesetwo lots of services are just a sample of the servicesI have been doing.

All in all, my first year at UWC was fantastic, andthis was mainly due to the fact that I learnt somuch; learning that was not just in the classroom.Being among these people and undertaking theseactivities has shaped me so much in just these 9months, and I love to think about what another 9months will do. I will never ever be able to thankthe Australian National Committee and the peo-ple who made it possible enough for giving me theopportunity to attend a UWC. So, as one of manymore to come, I say Thank You with all my heart.

All in all, my first year at UWC was

fantastic, and this was mainly due to

the fact that I learnt so much; learningthat was not just in the classroom.