Student Reflection: Anna at UWC East Africa

Anna is a recent graduate and in 2021 she was our first ever UWC Ireland Scholar to attend UWC East Africa in Tanzania. She’s currently studying in the USA. We asked if she would reflect on her time at UWCEA and she kindly sent us her thoughts.

My name is Anna and I am an alumni of UWC East Africa ‘23. I am from County Kilkenny and moving to Tanzania was my first time living abroad and away from my family. UWC threw my whole life into perspective, taught me new lessons and reminded me that  there is a whole world out there beyond my rural village. I was the first Irish student to attend UWC East Africa, and it took a lot of courage making the trip not knowing anyone else out there. However, the UWC East Africa community is so vibrant and welcoming, that I immediately felt at home.

In my second year, the Irish population at UWC East Africa tripled and I was joined by Laura Malone from Co. Kilkenny and Conn McKiernan from Co. Antrim. Conn and Laura are still my close friends and it makes me so proud to see the Irish community at UWC East Africa continue to grow. 

While the IB program at UWC was definitely a challenge, I am proud to say that I came out the other side with new skills which set me up for university. The IB builds students’ critical analysis, efficient research and formal essay writing skills, all of which I have found essential in my college career. It was such a privilege to attend a school with over 100 nationalities present. In a classroom with a diverse student group, everyone brings new perspectives and opinions making every lesson something special. UWC also provided me with so many essential social skills, such as negotiation, boundary setting and conflict resolution. I graduated as a better friend to those I love and a much more confident person than when I started.  

I am currently attending Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon USA and am pursuing an International Affairs degree. My BA in the United States would not be possible without the scholarship funding of the UWC Davis program. The Davis Program is a needs based scholarship program offered to all UWC students upon their acceptance to one of the 100 US partner universities. The program offered me the opportunity to continue my education abroad with hundreds of other UWC Davis students, as well as domestic American students. 

Lewis and Clark also has an incredible study abroad program built into their four year degrees. I spent an incredible semester in eastern Australia earlier this year, and I am looking forward to exploring London for a semester this coming Spring. I have been so privileged to do so much traveling and UWC has facilitated so much of that. My life has changed immensely these last four years and I am looking forward to all the changes ahead as well!