alice-at-atlantic - Tumblr blog

[alice-at-atlantic]

Assessments start tomorrow for UWCGB 2018 entry! Thought I’d reblog this for some last minute nerve soothing?

I’ll actually be helping out at interviews on the welfare team from Wednesday- come say hi if you’re there! It’s so odd to have come in this full circle- from an interviewee to a student to on the GB team. Ah, life. Throws you every which way doesn’t it?

Assessment blog- 16-17/12/2014

I was asked to write a blog for the UWC GB committee about the assessment process, so here y'all go-

I don’t remember much of the morning of the 16th of December- the trip from Scotland down to Wales is a complete blur in my mind. I do remember almost missing my train after favouring coffee over finding my platform, and then realising on the way down we had to give a presentation (I thought at that moment I had absolutely no chance) but luckily I had an eight hour journey ahead of me, and I managed to write my talk there (last minute, I know!)

At Llantwit station we were picked up by the owner of the bed and breakfast my mum was staying in, who drove us up the long road to the castle. It was super dark and I was really nervous- the lady didn’t help giving me a practice “interview” then telling me my answers were awful and that I spoke too fast; so seriously, the best piece of advice I can give is don’t worry about what anyone tells you, just be yourself. I know it sounds like awful advice and I remember being so annoyed it was all I was ever told but it is the most essential thing to remember- UWC wants you to be you.

On arriving at the Castle we were marshalled in by GB Committee members. They directed us to the great hall, through the portcullis of the castle looming above us and I 100% believed I was entering Hogwarts. In the Great Hall were a whole load of teens who didn’t know each other standing about awkwardly, so I waved goodbye to my mum quite quickly and made an effort to introduce myself to all these scary, tall and intelligent looking people. (In fact, the first person I spoke to was Adrian- the other first year writing an assessment blog. Shoutout to you Adrian, you go Adrian.) Looking back, I’m really glad I made an effort to talk to everyone- I still keep in contact with some people I only ever met at assessment.

Though they might have looked scary at first, when we actually got talking we realised how much we all had in common. Everyone was really friendly and obviously excited- I mean it when I say that absolutely everybody there was an amazing candidate- telling us that is actually how the committee started the days for us. Once everyone had arrived, we were sat in a big hall and the selections officers welcomed us and congratulated us on getting to interviews. What they made very clear was that basically everyone who applies through UWCGB would do amazingly at a UWC- there just aren’t enough spaces, so not to be disheartened if our journey with UWC didn’t go any further. (Remember- you can often apply again the next year!)

After this talk, we played some games and headed off with all our bags to one of the student houses that I now know as Sunley to drop our bags off. We had dinner in the dining hall, played some games to get to know each other in the coffee lounge, including that one where you have to create a device that stops an egg from breaking when it is dropped (my group completely lost) then headed to bed- we were told to get a good nights rest (SERIOUSLY, HEED THIS ADVICE)

Before sleeping, those I was sharing a room with and I practiced our presentations for the next day. I did mine on the continuing importance of feminism in today’s society, and Olive, one of my current co-years at AC did an amazing presentation on visual thinking and fun fact: the dorm we slept in on assessment together is her dorm now- she even has the same bed! A quick note on presentations while we’re at it- it can honestly be on anything you’re passionate about. From my group I heard talks on philosophy and filmmaking, but one of my GB co-years here at AC did hers on her poncho which apparently went down very well!

The next morning we were woken up pretty early, and sleepily sorted in to our assessment groups. In mine there were only girls, but it is to my understanding they are usually mixed. We had breakfast and then began the actual assessment. Our groups rotated around various activities from teamwork games to small debates. I remember being terrified all day once finding out my last activity was the actual panel interviews, but honestly- they are absolutely nothing to worry about.

UWCGB splits the actual interviews into three groups- personal attributes, commitment to UWC ideals and intellectual ability and curiosity. They are not informal but not completely scary. They really just want to get a feel for your personality and ask a little about why you think UWC is for you. I had to hurry to catch my train as soon as interviews were finished, but I hear there were some talks for parents just after this.

I left my assessment days feeling really happy- not because I assumed I’d done well- but simply because I massively enjoyed the experience. Make the most of it. Then it was just a waiting game that seemed to go on forever. A month and a half later though, I’d been offered a place at UWC Atlantic College and never felt happier.

Last words of advice- smile a lot, talk to everyone you can, stand up for your opinions and again, be yourself! Be yourself! Be! Yourself!

[alice-at-atlantic]

reflections of an alumna (on first year arrival day)

You could tell exactly who the second years were in Heathrow without even looking at them too hard. They radiated confidence- an attribute I remember admiring then and never really thought I’d gain myself, though I suppose I must have.

They’ll be fourth years now, and it’s interesting to see how they’ve spread their wings around the world, and have gone places I’d never heard of even after AC where I guess you begin to feel like you know everything. You don’t- nowhere near it.

Today marks the official start of being a third year and it’s really only today I finally began to think about the way time passed, and how we truly have left AC- our home. It’s hard not to look at my first years social media updates today and feel jealous, or hungry to know more. But I’m restraining myself, because it’s not my place anymore. And that’s a hard realization to come to, or a hard thing to repeatedly tell yourself. It’s only now it’s truly hitting.

The past two years will still exist, in our memories, though I hope they’ll be blurred to exclude the hard bits and the pessimism. A flickery photo reel, in soft light, allowing nostalgia without ever getting too sad or making room for tears.

Resettling at home has been difficult, trying to avoid old, dangerous patterns of being but still actually make it out of the AC bubble was a balancing act of sorts. Moving on will I think be easier though, especially with the experience of that radiant second year confidence.

I hope it’s growing on my first years too.

[alice-at-atlantic]

What on earth just happened?

I graduated.

I will reflect when I have somewhat recovered.

[alice-at-atlantic]

hello! just wondering — do you have enough free time to yourself every day? to watch a film, check your phone, call home? i'm sure it's not so easy in the second year!! i saw you say that the wifi isn't the best though :'(

Hey there! 

Totally, people really exaggerate how little time you have (or rather, pretend like they spend it all working). I work a fair amount and don’t have time to watch movies but that’s generally because I get distracted doing other things!

Each to their own though- my roommates love watching movies and stuff when the wifi in their corner is good enough. As for calling home and checking your phone, of course! Checking FB multiple times a day is really important because the student community basically runs through it

[alice-at-atlantic]

hey! so i understand that the showers are communal (which i'm honestly half-nervous and half-excited, mostly the latter, about). is it the same in all the houses or are there some exceptions in certain houses?

Hiya there! All of the houses, bar PK (the newest one) have communal showers. In PK they like that, in others we love that we don’t. Every shower room does have one curtain (so one closed off cubicle) at least though!

And in my house, Gwynedd, the girls have cubicles in one corridor and communal in the other, so we get a pick :)

[alice-at-atlantic]

What are the best and worst things about UWC AC? What are the academics like? And also, how does dating work at UWC?

Hm- the best thing is definitely the people! The friendships you will make here will literally span oceans. The campus is quite fantastic too, and being by the sea makes a really beautiful backdrop to all the memories. As for the worst thing, the weather isn’t great, the academic blocks could do with some loving and yeah, the workload can be really tough. 

IB is tricky, but do-able. I’ve written quite a bit about how to deal with it, have a wee scroll.

Dating here works like anywhere else. Hookups are pretty frequent, and relationships come and go with quite a few long-standing ones dotted about!

[alice-at-atlantic]

Hello! My name is Kelly and I have passed to the next stage after the application of UWC.My interview is in January and I would be really greatful if you could help me with some tips about the interview! Like do you need to be a special student or to

Hey, so sorry for taking so long to answer, school took over for a bit! Congrats for reaching stage 2!!Well they definitely look for uniqueness in character- for you to have something special. Not necessarily to have a particular talent- I mean I certainly don't- but curiosity into the ways of the world, and passion for the ethos too! I'm sure I have an interview tips post somewhere... have a scroll, they're specific to GB interviews though :-(.And yeah, of course you can have personal things- most people have phones and laptops, though they're certainly not essential.Let me know how it went!

[alice-at-atlantic]

25 reflections of an alumni: the good, the bad and the nostalgic.

One

It is a very curious thing to not treat nationality as if it were a family name.

Two

I miss being able to tell people I love them without making them blush. 

Three

None of my teachers are incompetent anymore. The feeling is very odd, and I don’t know how I’m going to make it through my studies without the constant insecurity of failing.

Four

I sleep with a teddy bear at night, because deep down I still miss having three other people sleeping in the same room as me, and squeezing helps the void go away.

Five

I still catch myself saying ridiculously profound things in the most mundane of moments. Instead of causing curious exploration it now stirs up competitive debate.

Six

I have learnt that grief is a deeply cultural experience.

Seven

When I touch people now they see it as flirting. It continues to baffle me, so I have stopped extending my hands.

Eight

There is a certain beauty in finding both of your roommates lying in the fetal position in each their own corner of your room. 

Nine

UWC was the place where a boy saw me naked for the first time. His response was not encouraging.

Ten

UWC was also the place where all my second years lined up and waited in turn, to pass me notes and hug me close when I left.

Eleven

Ten people attempting to nap in a single bed is a sight to behold.

Twelve

I miss asking ignorant questions without being labelled as a racist.

Thirteen

Reality is (surprisingly enough) more daunting now that emotional breakdowns don’t lure behind every corner.

Fourteen

I can still identify my friends from the way they pee.

Fifteen

We were all so proud to be open minded, adamant in our liberalism, me more than most. UWC changed that, but it does not make me feel better about the social isolation we inflicted onto the homophobes.

Sixteen

Kurt Hanh was right; there was more in me than I thought.  

Seventeen

I recently learnt of a rape that happened to a now graduated student. The same thing happened when I was in school. But my pain and outrage was so much stronger the second time around. UWC is no safe-haven. I guess perspective really does foster anger.

Eighteen

Birthdays happen in one language now, without kidnappings or huge homemade poster-sized cards. The booze is better and the buzz is louder. The cake-punches however, are deeply missed.

Nineteen

Home still smells like weed and bleach and rotten earth.

Twenty

I have finally stopped equating care in appearance with vanity in personality. UWC helped that.

Twenty-One

I have never seen a place so obsessed with gossip, or where private holds no separation from public. I guess it makes sense. Sharing is caring and we shared all.

Twenty-Two

It is hard for me to envision a UWC that has money. Ratchet was a term we embraced. So were bare feet, shirtless-ness and body contact.

Twenty-Three

UWC still means standing on a stage knowing your performance will be met with cheers and applause. It means knowing people will only talk badly about you behind your back.

Twenty-Four

The rupture between past and present is never more obvious than when you see your first years standing in the place of your second years.

Twenty-Five

I still speak Spanish when I get drunk.

~~~

UWC Costa Rica

Alumni

[alice-at-atlantic]

I know that each UWC has a reputation. If you had to characterize RCN and its culture, how would you describe it? Also, is the academic load manageable?

Hey there!

Hmm, I’m really not too sure because RCN isn’t a school you really hear a lot about! All I know is that the co-years I have there seem to have a great time and they have an incredibly beautiful campus which can definitely help when the academic load I’ll go into gets all too much.

I think IB is completely different for everyone, but most people find it tough. It’s all relative- for me, maths studies is a huge workload because I’m just not good at maths and Spanish B is too because I’m challenging myself. On the other hand, some people take maths studies even though they’re at a much higher level and Spanish B as fluent spanish speakers and so that part of their diploma will be pretty much a breeze, In that sense, the IB is what you make of it and how much you challenge yourself. If you take something that’ll challenge but not kill you, you just have to break down your work, schedule your study and remember to persevere! It’s tough, but you’re much tougher ;)

[alice-at-atlantic]

Hey! Thanks for running this blog! I wanted to ask how socializing is in AC? Like is everyone clique-ish? Because I had a couple of feedback from my mom's friends that making friends the uwc in singapore is quite difficult, because they have students there who have schooled there since K1

Haha, all schools will be different so I can’t really talk for anywhere but AC, but making friends is super easy: everyone comes in the same boat of knowing next to no-one. Living with 50ish people your age you’re bound to make in house friends in no time at all, and once lessons and activities start etc it’s really easy to branch outside of your house too :)

[alice-at-atlantic]

Hey! Do you happen to know how many people apply and how many actually get accepted into the atlantic college (or any other UWCs!) I have a choice of directly applying to UWCSEA or trying for scholarships and studying in UWC really means a lot to me, so I've just been a little anxious about whether i should go for the scholarship or for the direct admissions. Also, sorry for this super duper vague question, but do you have any advice in going through the selections process? Thank you!

Hey there, I can’t say I know much at all about SEA- especially as UWCGB doesn’t send students there at all. You’d be much better off contacting someone at that school! But I’d always say to apply through a committee before resorting to IQ/Direct application which is meant to be only for people who can’t apply through a committee (ie if their country doesn’t have one or they don’t meet the requirements)

[alice-at-atlantic]

is the wifi connection at AC really that bad

Pretty bad, but it depends on the day ie. Youtube is loading today but sometimes I can’t open my email!

[alice-at-atlantic]

hi! i hope i'm not bothering you, but i wanted to ask what clubs (extra curricular) are there at AC and if there's a student council; head boy/head girl/prefects/monitors etc. Thank you so much:)

Course not!

I can’t really specify on clubs because our extra-curricular are mandatory so there’s absolutely hundreds of clubs on and they’re constantly changing- if you want to start an activity you just do! A few that I think run every cycle are Amnesty International, Football, Ceramics, Theatre, Med discuss, MUN and Debate- but there’s so, so many more.

Councils are a big part of the leadership structure at AC- as well as Student Council (StuCo) which has 2 Chairs (kinda like head boy and girl, but not really, and it’s not gender based) we have sustainability council, peace councill and student life at atlantic college (SusCo, PeaCo and SLAAC) which all have chairs too. We don’t have prefects or the like, but rep positions in every house, including peer listeners (who are trained to listen and mediate) and things like fire rep or language rep. For a few of these rep programmes there are chairs/co-ordinators: does that make sense? For example, I’m BISH (sexual health and consent) and Language Rep, and also the co-coordinator of these programmes.

Hope that helped!

[alice-at-atlantic]

Day in the life

So I wrote this based on my average day of school- obviously weekends and diploma periods are much different (and more fun!) 

------------------------------------------

6.45am: Wake up/sleep walk out of bed, get dressed, try not to wake up dormmates

7.15am-ish: Grab school things, head to dayroom. Make a cup of coffee if I got up on time, if not it’s probably a bit later. I’ll have breakfast in the house if there’s house supplies (bread, butter and milk) or if I’ve bought porridge or fruit, but I do like going to breakfast in the canteen because it makes me feel more awake for codes which believe me, you need.

7.30am: Walk down the long-ass main drive to the castle, probably still half asleep. School breakfast is great, I’ll usually have beans on toast or yogurt with honey, and a big bowl of watermelon and pineapple. Also coffee.

8am: First code (what we call lessons) of the day starts, it’s only on a Thursday that I have first free and don’t start til 8.55. It’s a Wednesday, so I have maths first, which I’m awful at. After maths I have a double art lesson, so I get to chill, listen to some music and paint until break which I’m happy about.

10.25am: Break which means a cuppa or a hot chocolate if I’m feeling adventurous. I chat to a few first years, and forget their names immediately after leaving.

11.45am: My environmental systems teacher tells us we can leave the class and go work on our IAs elsewhere- aka early lunch! 

1.30pm: I finish codes for the day, pick up a parcel from reception and head up to the house. I really need a nap, but I’ve got deaaaaaaadliiiines so I persevere and crack on with some coursework.

2.15pm: I take a nap

4.45pm: Realise I have service, grab my swim stuff and uniform hoodie and head down to the pool. An hour of teaching swimming and I’m much more awake and much more exhausted at the same time.

6pm: Sprint up to dinner just as it’s closing, get leftovers. Pick up house supplies and probably eat some toast.

6.30pm; COMMUNUAL SHOWER!! fave part of the day

7pm: Make some peppermint tea, back to working. I usually study in the house quiet room or my carrel unit, which is a designated spot in the castle I can work in. Some people just run and stick their name where they want, but some carrel units are passed down year to year. I’m in Utopia, a beautiful pass-down with murals all over the walls.

10.15pm: This is check in, when we have to be back inside the house. I usually try to have finished working by this point, and go socialise in the dayroom (and try to learn the first years names. I’m getting there)

00.00am: I always try to go to sleep early, but people are too interesting/room mate chats and olive eating always keeps me up. I set my alarm, put in my earplugs and fall asleep like a log. It’s weird how quickly you get used to sleeping with other people so nearby, but you do,

[alice-at-atlantic]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Oh second year, where to start? Oh third term, why did you have to?

Sorry for inactivity lately- though it doesn’t seem to put off emailed questions (which is super cool, I love chatting to you guys) Third term has hit like a car crash and I don’t seem to have enough time to do anything lately.

A quick catchup:

I got back after a hectic but lovely and well needed summer on the 9th of August, and was thrown straight back off campus with my service group to the beautiful Welsh village of Tenby where we camped and spent three days surfing, SUPing and swimming as a bonding experience. It was super nice to get closer to the group, and we definitely gelled over the few days (putting on wetsuits that were shabbier than the ones at first year camp in a very, very public car park would make anyone stick together.)  After getting back from Tenby, we spent five days running a kids swimming summer camp for the service week, which was a lot of fun, if super tiring. Chasing an over excited five year old around a swimming pool for two hours is harder than it looks, trust me. Especially when they can’t swim and you have to hold them up to breathe every five seconds.

The rest of August period was designated study time and I worked a fair amount on my extended essay and some other coursework, but most of it was spent in the sea, in fields and on cliffs watching the sunsets with my co-years, chatting, reminiscing and predicting what the year ahead would be like. It was an amazing time period- I’d happily die to have it just one more time- and I’ve never felt closer to a group of people.

First years arrived August 22nd to a classic AC welcome of dancing, singing, crazy outfits, air horns and pots & pans. Though Gwynedd broke all our wooden spoons and most of our kitchen stuff with the enthusiasm, I think the first years liked it (???)

Codes started a week or so ago, and the first years already feel like a permanent fixture around the house. It’s super cool having some new nationalities in the house- like Icelandic and Ethiopian- though I can’t deny I miss my second years a whole ton.

We’re back to the grind now, with deadline after deadline and planning my timetable is the most difficult it’s been my whole life. But hey ho, onwards and upwards. I’m in the process of writing a day in the life post, so I’ll publish that and maybe some photos soon. 

Lotsa love!

[alice-at-atlantic]

Dear potential applicants

(I received a lovely email from an Austrian girl considering applying to UWC, and I thought I might share my answer..... My email is in my about section if you have any questions of your own!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm completely empathetic to your issue- when I was applying for UWC, and when I got my place, I'd lie in bed every night with my mind swinging really radically- between OH MY GOD I DONT WANT TO LEAVE HOME WHAT ABOUT MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, PROM, YEARBOOK?? and OH MY GOD THIS IS THE BEST DECISION EVER YAAAASS It was a really scary and difficult time for me, so I totally understand that it will be for you too. My first piece of advice for you would be apply! Otherwise you'll be forever stuck in that "what if..." phase. I don't know what the Austrian process is like, but I know for me GB committee was a very good representation of what UWC/AC life is actually like, or what the culture is in these communities. I met some really amazing people on my interview days and generally had a ball. It's a good way to get some kind of idea of what UWC is actually like, and figure out if it's for you- so I'd say it's worth a shot no matter what. After that, I'd say that if you do manage to get in then it's probably the right decision for you: national committees are generally pretty good judges of character, and they know what they're looking for. On the note of leaving behind friends and family, of course that comes with the territory but, cheesy as it sounds, you make a new one, and amazing new friends when you leave. I've got better friends now than I'd ever imagined (communal showers do that you know) and when I come back home to Scotland my relationship with my family and friends here hasn't changed one bit- or if it has, it's for the better as your relationships strengthen and you appreciate what you have a lot more. One thing I think I'd have liked to have known would definitely be that whilst moving away was hard/weird for me, it was hard and weird for my friends and family too- sending them a quick text is always appreciated :) I'm so happy I made the decision to move. It's given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise- crazy friends, incredible memories, and educational ones too! I'm considering applying for college in the U.S. now, which I would have never even thought about before. So yeah, I recommend it 100%. Wishing for change was probably just me having a rant as, like anywhere, the place isn't perfect. However, we have a new principal starting in January (? I think) so that's a good start. All I'd really say would be it's a complete life changer. I can't convince you to apply with anecdotes from my experience because everyone at every UWC will have a completely unique experience- but no matter what it will be life changing and as I've heard, usually for the better.

[alice-at-atlantic]

Tips for my first years.

1. Your second years are there to help. We went through exactly what you’re going through mere months ago, so don’t worry- we get it.

2. On that note, don’t let us shape your UWC experience too much. Each year is and should be completely individual, so don’t let us totally tell you exactly how things should be.

3. But still, we do have 10 months of living in AC under our belts- that’s got to mean something and at least at first, let us show you the ropes.

4. Bring flipflops. There will come a point where you don’t care about the freezing welsh rain, and putting on real shoes will be too tiring. 

5. Bring food from home- as much as you can fit in your suitcase. Induction is a hungry time. So is the rest of the time.

6. Adventure as much as you can in the time before codes start. Get to know the castle, the gardens, the seafront. It’ll help you a lot when you’re finally dashing around trying to find a class with T minus thirty seconds until you’re going to be officially late.

7. Don’t study too much in first term- you can get round to that later.

8. At the same time, don’t worry about socialising and constantly needing to be involved. Chatting in the dayroom til 4am is great fun, but do it every night and it can be really damaging. You have two whole years with these people- your bed is important.

9. Keep in touch with friends and family at home, especially in the first few weeks: they’re feeling the loss of you. Don’t spend hours on Skype, but let them know you’re thinking about them.

10. Don’t try to create a persona or present yourself as something different. I assure you:  6 months of IB and communal living and you’ll have dropped it entirely.

11. Don’t be scared of communal showers or bathrooms. They’re one of the best parts of AC- bring a speaker and some music and you’re good to go.

12. Talk to Peer Listeners, Language Reps, Induction Reps, BISH Reps. They’re there for a reason.

13. In fact, talk to all your second years/as many as you can. They’re only going to be about for a few months, and you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

14. Eat in the canteen- it’s sometimes not too bad. But treat yourself to a kebab on occasion: maths test? hard day? outdoor induction? You deserve it.