Daphne Gambieraki – UWC Maastricht
How did you find out about UWC and why did you apply?
I grew up on a (VERY) little Greek island, and, although I had the most amazing childhood there, at one point it got too limited and I wanted to explore something new. I was thinking about where to go, to the mainland in Greece seemed one of the best solutions, but the truth is that I preferred something even more challenging. Since my mother is Dutch, the Netherlands also seemed a good option, although deep down it was still now satisfying enough. I was looking for something special, something where I would be able to learn 24/7, something special. That year my cousin went to a boarding school somewhere in Wales, close to the Atlantic College, and my aunt sent us an email about the college. I remember how I stood perplexed when I read the number of nationalities attending the school (about eighty something or so)….this was what I wanted, that something extra.
What are you first impressions of UWC?
My first impression, as well as my second, my third, and my eighth hundredth twenty seventh impression, have been (although each of them superdifferent) unexpected. That is how I would describe it. They are so many, so powerful and multicolourful, so amazing, that you can only understand them when experienced.
What do you enjoy most about life at UWC?
It is so full; there is never one minute of stopping, boredom, nothingness. There is no other place which is as a giant, constantly open and accessible encyclopedia about life as UWC.
What has been the most challenging aspect?
Since Maastricht is a new college and I was in the pioneering year, we had to face really big challenges to manage to make this place the way we made it. It took a lot of fighting to reach the expectations we had, team work, understanding, tolerance, and sometimes it would get so frustrating that I thought we wouldn’t make it, but then we would always fund a way to support each other and keep striving for what we came here for. Last year has taught me so much about life; building and creating a whole new, unique UWC was definitely an unforgettable experience.
What subjects are you taking?
I have History, Geography and English A2 as my Higher Levels, and then Greek A1 (self taught), Math Studies, and Environmental Systems and Societies as my Standard Levels.
What CAS activities are you involved in?
My main long term activity is the Jerusalem Project, which is set at a site with a 14th century old castle, surrounded by beautiful nature, where we work to make it accessible to the public. We have cleaned the pond and the surrounding areas, cut vegetation that hinders the growth of the many beautiful trees, created pathways. We are starting a little garden where we have ambitious plans of producing some boring vegetables, jam and wine (!!!). But apart from the pure working aspect of the project, there is another really cool part about it, which has not yet started though; we are developing a nature-education project, mainly with the Lower Years of the school, which we are going to start bringing over each second weekend. We have designed a five-week program, where we teach them in fun ways concepts such as recycling, energy cycles, reusable resources, the carbon cycle, also by playing activities and cool games, in order to make the children realize how fun it is to be in nature rather than sitting inside and not moving behind the TV. Apart from this, I also run a Greek Mythology club in the Primary School, and I am going to give Greek Dancing lessons. Together with two more people we are managing the documentary club of the school, where we are going to do really cool projects, linked with all the other UWC’s. Then, I also take part in extra curriculum activities, and, although they take up all the time I have for my homework, some of them are just so good that I can’t leave them (photography club, Bollywood dance, volleyball, Arabic classes…)
What advice would you give to students thinking about applying?
Just do it. It will change your life.
What are your ambitions after you leave UWC?
I am the most indecisive person you will ever meet, so don’t expect a detailed analytical plan of my future life journey; yet, I know that in the end, whatever I do, the most important thing for me is going to be able to have applied everything that represents what I learned in this place, such as respect, understanding, listening, but really listening, embracing, dreaming, doing, co operating, having fun, laughing, learning, understanding more, eating, questioning, doubting, deciding, to everything I do in my life. Next year I am going on a gap year travelling in Latin America. I will do a project where I build houses for people who don’t have them. The year after I would love to do another gap year in the middle east, but maybe I will have missed studying so much (and maybe not J )that I will go to university. Otherwise I will after the Middle East. We’ll see.
