Introduction

Following a three stage selection process:

·         Written Application

·         Individual hour long interview with a selection committee consisting of 6 members (five of which were past UWC students)

·         A four hour-long ‘group discussion’ (on an international and local topic) with seven student vying for three supposed spots to UWC’s in Costa Rica, New Mexico and Swaziland.

I received two missed phone calls from my mum when [illegally] checking my cell phone at lunch time at school. Discreetly calling her back in a classroom with two friends, I found out the news I had been accepted into UWC. After doing a few spontaneous jumps for this news, I learnt that I had even been chosen to represent my island at the UWC Atlantic College, a school that I literally had been dreaming about going to for the past few months.

Screaming and accidentally hanging up the phone on my own mother my friends ran over to hug me. They had been hearing me jabber over each stage of the selection process and listening to my verging-on-pessimistic outlook of the odds of me actually getting in.

Ever since I’ve done as much research as possible about UWC AC in Llantwit Major, Wales. First off by learning how to actually pronounce properly the “Ll” sound. I found it most useful the two blogs that I came across and raptly read the entire blog of the life that I will actually be living in a few months. It’s a fantastic idea for upcoming students and an easy way to send out vast information to as many friends and family wanting to know of the day-by-day occurrences.

Whether I’ll be able to keep this up-to-date as I live my AC experience may be a challenge, there may be horrible spelling mistakes along the way, but it’s something I hope I can manage.

BACKGROUND:

Myself - My name is Abi Drummond. I am sixteen and live in the beautiful island of Grand Cayman, one of three islands that make up the Cayman Islands. It’s in the Caribbean, located south of Cuba and North of Jamaica.

The School - UWC - Founded on the ideals of international peace and understanding, the United World Colleges (UWC) offer a two-year university preparation programme for students aged 16 to 18 years who are awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma on successful completion. A UWC education provides a multidisciplinary, rigorous academic programme, with strong emphasis on community service and a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities.

The excitement of this new adventure still hasn't began to fade and I doubt that it will. Waiting four more months to be at UWC and having to get through my IGCSE's seems like an extremely long way to go...
Love, Abi