Abigail Drummond
Personal Statement
Hello! My name is Abi Drummond and I am from the Cayman Islands.
I heard about UWC rather late, only the February of this year. A woman from the UWC of the Cayman Islands national committee came to my school and spoke about the UWC movement. I was immediately enraptured over the idea of dozens of nationalities being grouped together: all enthusiastic and wanting to make an impact on society. This is where I am meant to be.
I’ve been here for just over three weeks now and it’s amazing to think of how much at home I feel already. I’ve made friends from across the globe that I already dread the thought of leaving in two years.
I take HL English Literature, Geography and History (European) and SL French ab initio, Maths Studies and Environmental System. Though I would consider the Cayman Islands as quite multi-cultured being in a class of so many backgrounds and cultures is simply phenomenal, I sometimes have to stop and think ‘wow, we’re studying European History and have representatives from Germany, Russia and Italy all in one class…how incredible is this?’
Atlantic College for me is an opportunity to learn about people not in the meagre way of their favourite colour and food but in the way of their thoughts on important topics, to learn of their culture and traditions and become aware of our similarities but more importantly our differences.
To teach. To grow. To change. To inspire. To laugh.
Hello! My name is Abi Drummond and I am from the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. I was born and raised on a little island called Grand Cayman of just over 50,000 people. My mum also grew up on the island and my dad moved from England when he was in his mid-twenties. It’s an amazing place to call home (at least I feel so), with quite a number of diverse cultures and a very island-laid-back lifestyle. Before coming to UWC AC I was quite an enthusiastic swimmer, on the Cayman Islands National Team and travelled a few times per year to represent my country. From these experiences of meeting people from other countries I realized I had a strong interest (possibly even a passion) in getting to know people of my own age with different views and traditions than myself and who were just as enthused to learn about mine.
Coming to AC has already fulfilled so many of my wishes. Not saying I was oblivious to matters before, but to come to a school where everyone is so hard-working and dedicated to make an impact but yet still willing to take a moment to step-back and appreciate the simple things has truly enlightened me. I can’t imagine now what it would have been like if I were to have stayed in Cayman, my AC experience far surpasses any other alternative. Even if I the Welsh-weather is not quite what I’m used to, it just makes me appreciate my home in another way- which I feel is an important thing to have as well. A greater appreciation and pride for the place that we are all individually from is essential.
The subjects that I am taking are Higher Level English Literature, History European and Geography, then SL Maths Studies, French ab initio and Environmental Systems and Societies. I find it so bewildering and exciting that in my subjects I’m learning alongside people from every corner of the globe, the discussions we are able to have in class because of this are unlike any other school that I have ever been to. In History for example, we have representatives from quite a number of the countries that we are studying- the rareness and specialty of this is something that you could only find at a UWC.
My service is called Atlantic Outdoor Centre. This year I am learning the ways in which to lead a service-session with kids from local schools and other areas. For the last five weeks I’ve been doing kayaking in which I learnt many different kinds of games and relays that would be suitable to play with a group of kids, the various techniques used in handling paddles and general awareness of pool safety. It was a really great five weeks, I got to know the seven other people that were also in my group far better than I had previously from the cafeteria or classes and we were able to play most of the games ourselves. Now, starting this week, I’ll be switching with my group to learning climbing.
Coming from a home that I’ve lived in my whole life, to go further a bedroom that I’ve had to myself, coming to AC and sharing with three other girls has been a remarkable experience. In my dorm there is Anne-Sofie from Denmark, Ruyi from China and Gabriella from Canada/Columbia. I never realized how close I would become to girls from simply sharing a room with them but it’s really something that I am so glad I’ve had the chance to do. I can already tell after two months that after two years they will be as close to me as some of my direct family. That being said my whole house of Morgannwg is already a tightly-knit family. My second-years really look out for us and are giving us great advice and reassurance over so many things – insignificant and dire.
I’m having a five-letter, cliché phrase right now. But what can I say; they’re clichés for a reason.
The time of my life.
