To Mariano, who left a huge piece of Costa Rica in my heart.
Three years, or 1018 days, I have finally graduated from UWC. As I sit and reflect on my journey, I realize that it is impossible to encapsulate my experiences within a limited piece. Perhaps every hug, tear, and laughter we cherished speaks louder than any words I could ever write.
After the graduation, I couldn’t help but watch the video of me going on stage and rushing into Paula’s hug, over and over again. It took me what felt like forever to walk those 20 seconds. From the left stage to the right, from Taitung to Changshu, and Costa Rica. Finally, it is the moment to embrace myself tightly and say, ‘You did it, you’re amazing.’
I heard someone calling me loudly from a distance — Yun — pulling me into an embrace right away. I’ve always loved to be called by my given name, as I’ve always tried so hard to find myself while growing up. I still remember at the orientation camp of my second year, I was sitting in the center of everyone, holding back my tears as I said, ‘Finding identity has never been easy, perhaps it could be even harder if you are Taiwanese. We all came to UWC to better understand the world, but suddenly realized that before getting to know the world, we must first understand ourselves.’ And UWC is a journey with oneself.
UWC has taught me to be resilient and compassionate, taught me to take care and be true to myself, taught me to bid farewell. UWC has infused my life with the essence of yeast. Sometimes I don’t know how to describe the impact of UWC on me, but I found yeast to be a perfect term. Yeast takes time to ferment and work its magic. This small cluster of yeast has given me the courage to follow my heart toward a future that may be a little different from others, as I will begin my university back home in Taiwan.
Along with everything that I am so familiar with, there were also hardships and growth in the last semester of UWC. In December, in a completely unexpected moment (right after I woke up at noon), I received the admission list from the Taiwanese university, and surprisingly, my name was listed as the first one among others. I was incredibly happy. However, the excitement soon ended when I was faced with the decision of whether to go back home or not. It wasn’t an easy decision at all; in fact, it may be the hardest one I have ever made in my life until now. Every day, I question myself, what kind of life do I want after graduating? Is going back home the right choice? Will I be accepted? Am I ready for reverse culture shock and potential conflicts with family? On my 19th birthday, I had a counseling session with my psychologist. I was very anxious at that point, but a simple phrase, ‘You are amazing and brave enough,’ brought me home.
Choosing to attend college back home is indeed a rare choice at UWC. Every time people ask me, ‘Where are you going for university?’ I honestly did not know how to respond. But now I understand that it’s UWC and the abundant love and growth I received that gave me the confidence to embark on an unusual journey, but at the same time, a journey I truly desire. I still remember the decision night, I blubbered, ‘What if I never find another school as good as UWC Costa Rica?’ I knew these fears were fueled by the unknown, but it also shows how much I appreciate for the past tow years.
I want to express my gratitude to each and every one who has taken care of me and completed me. Thank you to my psychologist, Rene, for always being there whenever I need. Thank you to my teachers, Mariano, Sam, Jess, Tessa, Christoph, and Rich, for believing in me before I believed in myself. Thank you to my peers, Twelve House, Brian, Susing, Candice, Changchang, Hana, and Marie. We cheered, laughed, cried, and survived IB. Last but not least, thanks to Ashlee, the chair of UWC Taiwan National Committee, who wrote me a letter of encouragement when I was first rejected in my application. It’s because of you that I had the chance to be present here and experience the joy of everything.
Life is long, and UWC is short, but all I needed was to have met you.
I will definitely miss the warm weather, the chill environment, and all the memories created in Costa Rica. But I know the friendships we forged, the paths we walked, and the journey we experienced will last for life. I came to UWC seeking challenges, but in the end, I discovered that UWC has become a part of my comfort zone. We left this campus with tears and joy, remembering Costa Rica, UWC, Botanicas, and the helados store in front of the park — the moments when we held hands as if we owned the world will forever remain in our hearts.
So follow your heart bravely, it knows the way.
