Stanzin Edgha Mahindra 2014 -16

My summer back in India was well spent with my family and friends for 3 months. After the IB it was a nice and relaxing break. My Ib scores were good. After the rigor it made me believe in my potential. I can’t believe that I am done with the IBs and become a UWV alumni. It was a great experience. I am now studying at the St. Lawrence University in New-York. Taking courses related to Pre-Med. They include Biology and Chemistry for the two semesters. I am taking Japanese as a language course. I think my interest in Japanese mostly came from my UWC friends, and would like to know more about it. My classes started last week and I am enjoying the states as it is my first time going abroad. Thanks to the UWCSEA staff and supports for making this happen. I truly Thank them for then generous support. 2 years passed by and it has changed me so much.When I left UWC as a student I realized the world had transformed for me, in a very real way that to this day shapes how I read the news headlines and see people around me. When I went to UWC, many country-names were far away places, little else, perhaps associated with an image or whatever I knew about them. Not even knowing about some countries actually existed.

After being at UWC, countries were people. Yemen will always be my co-year Thana;

Iraq, Kotiba.

Israel- Yale

Turkey- Beste

Though only 2 months has passed, I think of these people, their faces, and their families, when I read the news. And this is what being a global citizen means to me. I hope that this remains a UWC phenomenon for a lifetime: that you leave a place truly connected with people from all over the world, enough that it impacts the way you think of this world.

Thank you UWCSEA,

Regards,

Stanzin Idga

January 2016

Dear UWCSEA staffs

“If you sow a seed, a mighty trunk may grow”. Such felicitous words totally encompass, what all has happened to me in the past year, thanks to your caring hands and support. I was a girl, for whom the future was narrow due to lack of scope, who always felt that she was carried away in the unfriendly stream. Unfortunately, change seemed impossible in that situation. Now, I am a girl, who has greater exposure and widened thinking. The impossible change finally occurred, thanks to you. But it wasn’t overnight and neither was it easy; I’ll tell you soon how it all happened.

A big part of it has been from my studies here at MUWCI. In this much more liberal education curriculum, my interest and my willingness dictate what I do and study. This has helped me to exercise my freedom, in being my own self and unique. Thus, I chose to study Biology, which is my utmost passion, Chemistry, English Language and Literature, Hindi, Psychology and Maths. However, this sudden change in the study pattern, I struggled a lot in my First term. I was lacking some very important skills of analyzing and application, which I believe are one of the best numerous skills I gained here.

Although studies formed the core of my personal development, extracurricular activities, called trivenis, also played a huge role. I was looking forward to come to MUWCI because I see something more than studies in it, which fascinates me every day, which makes it different from other schools, its extracurricular approach. Not only this, I also explored my passion for things such as, cycling and other outdoor activities, of which I have been an active part. Being a very curious and excited first year, I took part in 12 activities. This gave me an opportunity to do activities to enhance and hone my other skills.

But, this experience didn’t just end there. After having learnt several skills, it was time to put them into practice on my own in the second term. For that purpose, I organized many expeditions, for both the MUWCI community and the visitors. I have also been a part of other expeditions and presentations on Campus.

However, that doesn’t mark the end to my holistic learning experience here. Socializing at MUWCI is a totally new experience in itself. Meeting with people from various religions, nationalities, cultures, etc. helps us to get a better understanding of these differences amongst us and break away with the stereotypes we have about each others. This environment has had a huge impact on who I am as a person. I was always an introvert before coming here, but now, I go around and meet new people and make new connections.

Although I have covered a long distance by now, I still have to work harder as, education is an ongoing process. I need to focus on my weaknesses and make them my strengths. This forms my second year goal.

But, all this could never have been possible without your generous support and if you wouldn’t have sown that seed, which is now slowly growing into a tree. I thank you for your cordial support, not only for me, but for the whole Lamdon community as a whole.

Thank You,

Sincerely,

Stanzin (Class of 2016)

June 2015

It really fills me with sheer happiness and lightheartedness when I get mail from Singapore. I consider myself so lucky and great full to be an active part of the UWC movement, which strongly supports its ethos to unite people, cultures and nations for peace and a sustainable future. Each year UWCSEAS sponsor one student from a very ethnic and diverse background and gives the opportunity to experience the world, is something GREAT (i would say) they are doing. My previous year in MUWCI was beautiful.And I am looking forward to make this year even more productive and most beautiful. I have a quota which i kept in my mind all along and it really helped me and kept on reminding me to work harder. 'Stay hungry, Stay foolish'- Steve Jobs

It's been a hard time to enduring every hardship and challenges. And not to forget all the hardships were worth experiencing, which added a new learning to my experience of one year in this campus. which provided me with so much love and support from both the teachers and community. It allowed me to engaging in this rigorous curriculum of IB and a MUWCI life on campus. As the change of teaching methods and style was totally new for me, it took me a bit of time to accommodate but after a while it was just indescribable. Term 2 was comparatively harder than term 1, as the content of the subjects increased, harder it got to give ample time to every subjects, trivenies and CAS. Plus IAs, TOK mocks and introduction to EEs and apart from that preparation for SATs. The number of tests in each week increased and grades decreased. And, I look forward to make it more enriching this year. I have learnt many skills through High school science and this year I am coordinating it, going to the village and teaching the kids the phenomenon of dynamic field of science. High School Science is a community engaging triveni in which we teach students from the nearby village in Kule science experiments which they require to fulfill as part of their curriculum.This activity has been going on for the last 10 years, through trivnies, which gave me a chance to explore my passion and through regular classes as they have taught me to become a stronger person. Each day was a new learning and I engaged with my full zeal and enthusiasm. There were times when things didn't work out and felt low but if I now reflect back at them, they made me stronger and I am glad that I survived :P.