Romy de Niet – UWC Red Cross Nordic
How did you find out about UWC and why did you apply?
That's a complicated story. My grandfather is married to an Indonesian women whose granddaughter went to the UWC in the USA. That's how I found out. I had been looking for ways to go abroad for one of two years, but it was mostly too expensive. UWC granted scholarships and I liked its goals and ideals very much.
What are you first impressions of UWC?
I don't remember much of my first impressions at the college, as everything was so overwhelming. There were so many people from so many countries, all at the same time. The first week was exciting and a little confusing. But as you live together, you get to know each other and the college incredibly fast.
What do you enjoy most about life at UWC?
I enjoy to learn from others. Every day, something or someone surprises me. The stories that people tell about their lives before RCNUWC are very interesting and I can tell that everybody has been through something special. An example is my roommate from Western Sahara who lived in a refugee camp in Algeria for most of her life. She knew very little English and had never seen a PC or laptop. The first few weeks were very hard, but it's incredible to see how determined and hardworking she is. The visible growth of others and yourself make a UWC a special place.
What has been the most challenging aspect?
For me it is and was very challenging to share a room with others. I always had my own room with a lot of space and privacy, but now I share my room with four others. I had to get used to the noises and habits of my roommates, but it worked out in the end. My roommates are all very lovely and it's nice to have somebody to talk to at every moment of the day. Whenever I get annoyed by any of them, I usually go for a walk in the Norwegian nature.
Another challenge that almost every UWC student faces is homesickness. Everyone gets homesick at some point. Sometimes I miss my friends and family or just simply watching Dutch television. Luckily there's Skype... And some very lovely co-years that can relate to the problem and are very willing to help distracting you.
What subjects are you taking?
Dutch A1 Self Taught, English A2, Math Studies, History, Biology and Development Studies (Geography).
What CAS activities are you involved in?
I lead the Gender and Sexuality group with Jana, my co-year from Ireland. We discuss gender- and sexuality related issues, people give presentations about their countries, we watch movies and have a good time together. The group organizes Rainbow Week and Gender Week, the two main GAS (Gender And Sexuality) events.
I'm also part of the Campus tour EAC (Extra Academic Commitment), where a group of students shows the campus to patients from the Haugland rehabilitation center. Haugland is the core for our community services, as many of our students work with the patients. The activities vary from helping the patients with water confidence to organizing an entertaining evening program.
Lastly, I'm part of the SAFUGE group. We raise money by doing jobs in the area. Each year, members of the group organize a project in their country with the money we raised. Last summer, we had projects in Morocco, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Nepal.
What advice would you give to students thinking about applying?
Don't be afraid to apply, go for it! Don't give answers that you think are right, be honest. If you're insecure about your English (for the application forms), you can ask your English teacher or one of the current UWC students to help you out. Interviews are not scary, the people in the national committee are very nice. Don't worry too much and enjoy the process.
What are your ambitions after you leave UWC?
Right now, I am figuring out what to do next year. I am applying to several universities in the United States and Canada, but I'm also considering to go back to the Netherlands. I want to study International Relations or Criminology.
