Allegra Nesbitt-Jerman
UWC Atlantic 2018-2020
"I’m Canadian and I applied to UWC Atlantic through the Canadian National committee. I heard about UWC from several alumni I'd met over the years, all of whom seemed to be intellectually and globally inspired. I wanted to attend a UWC college because I craved meeting people with the same global curiosities as me and I wanted the opportunity to explore what a global community would look like. I wanted to live and work with other young people who shared my thirst for diverse understandings and experiences.
My UWC experience has presented me with a number of unrelated experiences which have brought me to one conclusion; we need connection. When I first did my UWC interview, they asked me what my strength was. I told them I was a good listener. I surprised myself at the time; I had never considered it a strength until then. That was the first thing UWC taught me, and it has continued to teach me since.
When I started at UWC Atlantic, I was a bit reserved. I was eager to listen and observe and learn, but I wasn’t contributing as much as I could. Over the year, I felt an urge to speak up a bit more. I was more forthcoming with my ideas and opinions, curious about what others would have to say. At first, I was very uncomfortable with that growth. I just felt loud. One day I was reflecting on this with a friend, and I realised I wasn’t just speaking louder. I was actually just speaking up.
I felt I had gained a voice. Instead of enjoying only listening, I found a real joy in connecting.
Being in the College, with like-minded students from all across the world, has made me crave discussion and understanding, and over time, I have discovered how to turn this newfound joy into action. I’m currently working with a team of students to develop the innovation platform called Lighthouse, where students can bring their ideas and their passion, with the intention of turning them into action. For me, Lighthouse is essentially a hub of discovery and innovation, where students can pursue what they love. Lighthouse is a place to connect to each other, our ideas, and how both play a role in a better global future.
That’s what UWC Atlantic has brought to me; the value of connection. It has helped me gain a greater sense of myself and of others, and taught me the importance of valuing every person in the world as a human being. If I want to make a positive impact in other’s lives, I believe we need to respect, understand, and appreciate each other as human beings, and I believe this begins with connection. I want to bring a sense of global connection to the world, a sense of global involvement, and with that, a sense of global responsibility."