Learn How to Cook : Transitioning from UWCSEA - East to a Gap Year

LEARN HOW TO COOK!! PLEASE! For your own good (and survival)!

 The very first thing I realized when coming to China was: I am hungry. The second thing I realized was that one cannot go to restaurants everyday, for three meals a day. It is simply not smart in terms of finances and health - nor for personal growth. I contacted my mum, cousins, aunts, friends and more, asking for easy recipes. Problem solved! 

It is all about learning, and solving the (many) obstacles you might encounter. It also about having the best time possible. Work hard, push your limits - do further research. I am currently working in a school in the outskirts of Beijing, China; and I am really enjoying the challenges.  

Contrary to the misconception of Gap Years being lazy years, I always find myself busy. If I am not at work, doing household duties, exploring the country or meeting friends…….I would be reflecting! 

I honestly reckon that when we fall into the routine of just following schedules, we do not stop to just THINK! 

So my suggestion would be to take breaks, read a good book, eat good and healthy food, sit down at parks, watch people interacting, make plans, travel, create stories. And more importantly, create your own story :-) 

Take care, and Happy UWC Day! 

Miguel Angel

Looking for Merit Aid?

Looking for a Merit Award to reduce the cost of university?   In order to be considered for merit awards, students are usually in the top 15% of the applicant pool at a particular institution.  Often no special application is needed, consideration is typically automatic and based on grades and standardized test scores.

Here are some colleges and universities that we know awarded merit scholarships to our first graduating class.  There are many others out there, but they are not always advertised.   Many Canadian universities offer merit awards automatically based on IB scores.  Research to see if any of these are a good fit:

Boston University
Drexel University
Earlham College
George Washington University
Hofstra University
Lafayette College
Marist College
Northeastern University
University of San Francisco
Syracuse University
Simon Fraser University (Canada)
New York University - Shanghai (China)

If you know of more universities that offer merit awards, tell your Advisor!   More information will be provided in another post on applying for financial aid based on need and on the Davis UWC Scholars Program, which is need-based.

Transitions: Goodbye! Good luck! Keep in Touch!

Today is the last day of classes for our Grade 12 students.  We have had the immense pleasure of working with the closely. We are sad to see them go.  Our final transitions assembly was one filled with  loads of advice. We've whittled it down to a few bullet points:

1. Be kind to yourself

2. Make time for yourself

3. Be safe

4. Be  a good bystander

5. Keep in touch


There's also a great Buzzfeed article on leaving school. Please check it out here. 

Finally here is the video of Grade 12 Mentors giving Grade 12 students advice. (Thank you to Joan Liu for running around getting the mentors to record the advice, to the Grade 12 mentors for taking the time, and finally to Grade 11 student Shukri for putting it all together for our department).