DEEP IN UWC COSTA RICA’S BIG HEART
(Photo taken pre-covid)
For each UWC-er, UWC has a different meaning. For some, it is the best place for academics, the best place for diversity, or, most importantly, the best place for life-changing experiences. I can’t deny that it is accurate, but with UWCs located in all parts of the world, everyone is special and has different realities. UWC Costa Rica has the particularity to have a very big heart. It comes from the essence of this community and the people within it.
The first case of COVID-19 had been alerted in Costa Rica on the 6th of March 2020. We were not even at the 10th case, and already the situation had impacted the whole community. All activities off-campus stopped, and measures were put into place. We could not go outside the campus for more than ninety minutes and were recommended to use hand sanitizer on our way out of campus.
We could not miss the posters on the wall as we made our way into class - that reminded us to wash our hands, use hand sanitizer, and talk about social distancing.
The environment and vibe had changed drastically, COVID-19 was the first topic under our lips, always discussed between friends and in classes. However, we were hopeful and believed that we were safe. We never imagined that the school was going to shut down.
Despite this significant change to the school dynamic, our first preoccupation was the prom ball and graduation. Little by little, firsties were preparing the departure of second years. As a way to say bye and get to know a second year that you didn’t know, we organized an individual promposal for the second year of our own choice. You could feel happiness and bonds being created among the community.
Some second years would ask you to dinner or lunch, just to get to know you better, and it is at this moment, I realized how UWCCR is socially based. The social dynamics made me feel like I’m in a utopia. It was as if everything was fine, and we were at the highest point of our UWC experience; I could feel this sense of community and a deeper connection to my co-years and second years. My heart was attached to this community, and no one could break this. However, we should have known that life has ups and downs, and in our case, the downs felt like a crash!
As the number of COVID-19 cases surged around the world, borders started to close. Students felt the need to leave because they wanted to be with their family to handle the lockdown. Everything went so fast, those who left early packed so fast and we said goodbye just at a glance. It felt too quick, and it didn’t feel right. It was not the time to say goodbye. So many days were left, and only a few remained for us too, before we had to go as well.
When the 12th of March arrived, I felt strange. Most of my classes were cancelled, the only topic was COVID-19, and no one was in the mood to be in class. The fact that so many people were leaving at the same time saddened the community.
Only UWCCR students know how excited we are when having community meetings! (Sarcasm) And when we received an email about a community meeting at the library, we came, expecting to get more information about the COVID-19 situation in Costa Rica, talking about health, and how it impacted our community. When Mr. Mauricio Viales, the Head of the School, started talking, I knew it was coming, I felt it... Deep in heart, I was convincing myself that it wouldn’t be true, that all of this would be a nightmare and I would wake up in my room with my roommates, going to class, eating lunch with my friends at the cafeteria but that’s when he said it: “We have decided to temporarily close the school”.
The phrase caused a heavy silence in the library; no one talked; everyone was in total shock. You could only hear the cries and comforting of each other. At this precise moment, you could feel the significant attachment students felt for this campus, and it was as if I felt I was not alone. I was not the only one sharing this attachment to this place. It’s crazy how you can get attached so easily to UWC Costa Rica even when you have just spent six months of your life there. The bonds that you create are meaningful, and you grow so much in this limited amount of time.
After this emotional event, everything went super fast. Class pictures were scheduled, documents were filled out for departure, and we spent our last outing with our regional families before we left. We were wrapping up to say goodbye, running in and out of Poas office not to miss the chance to say a last goodbye to our co-year.
Do you remember prom and graduation?
Luckily, we managed it in one day and although this sounds crazy - to organize both important high school events on the same date. UWCCR is like this, crazy and unpredictable. The staff and student body worked hard to organize graduation in the afternoon and prom in the evening. We dressed up to honour our second years and applaud their achievements after one and half years of IB stress. What made graduation special is when the first years gathered together to sing “Memories” by Maroon 5 to our second years. We are definitely not professional singers, and we were far from making our second years cry with our beautiful voices. But what made the tears drop is when we ran to hug them, and wish them good luck for their future. We shared positive compliments and pictured our last moments with them.
It was a crowd of emotions: joy, sadness, hope, positivity, even hate toward COVID-19, but essentially, it was love. Love for this place, but also love for these people who would always stay in our hearts. Love in particular for this “generation that never really graduated” (UWCCR’20). A generation that helped me grow and learn so much, a generation that has made my days brighter, and most importantly, a generation that we should never forget because they are the bravest ones
We could not miss the posters on the wall as we made our way into class - that reminded us to wash our hands, use hand sanitizer, and talk about social distancing.
The environment and vibe had changed drastically, COVID-19 was the first topic under our lips, always discussed between friends and in classes. However, we were hopeful and believed that we were safe. We never imagined that the school was going to shut down.
Despite this significant change to the school dynamic, our first preoccupation was the prom ball and graduation. Little by little, firsties were preparing the departure of second years. As a way to say bye and get to know a second year that you didn’t know, we organized an individual promposal for the second year of our own choice. You could feel happiness and bonds being created among the community.
Some second years would ask you to dinner or lunch, just to get to know you better, and it is at this moment, I realized how UWCCR is socially based. The social dynamics made me feel like I’m in a utopia. It was as if everything was fine, and we were at the highest point of our UWC experience; I could feel this sense of community and a deeper connection to my co-years and second years. My heart was attached to this community, and no one could break this. However, we should have known that life has ups and downs, and in our case, the downs felt like a crash!
As the number of COVID-19 cases surged around the world, borders started to close. Students felt the need to leave because they wanted to be with their family to handle the lockdown. Everything went so fast, those who left early packed so fast and we said goodbye just at a glance. It felt too quick, and it didn’t feel right. It was not the time to say goodbye. So many days were left, and only a few remained for us too, before we had to go as well.
When the 12th of March arrived, I felt strange. Most of my classes were cancelled, the only topic was COVID-19, and no one was in the mood to be in class. The fact that so many people were leaving at the same time saddened the community.
Only UWCCR students know how excited we are when having community meetings! (Sarcasm) And when we received an email about a community meeting at the library, we came, expecting to get more information about the COVID-19 situation in Costa Rica, talking about health, and how it impacted our community. When Mr. Mauricio Viales, the Head of the School, started talking, I knew it was coming, I felt it... Deep in heart, I was convincing myself that it wouldn’t be true, that all of this would be a nightmare and I would wake up in my room with my roommates, going to class, eating lunch with my friends at the cafeteria but that’s when he said it: “We have decided to temporarily close the school”.
The phrase caused a heavy silence in the library; no one talked; everyone was in total shock. You could only hear the cries and comforting of each other. At this precise moment, you could feel the significant attachment students felt for this campus, and it was as if I felt I was not alone. I was not the only one sharing this attachment to this place. It’s crazy how you can get attached so easily to UWC Costa Rica even when you have just spent six months of your life there. The bonds that you create are meaningful, and you grow so much in this limited amount of time.
After this emotional event, everything went super fast. Class pictures were scheduled, documents were filled out for departure, and we spent our last outing with our regional families before we left. We were wrapping up to say goodbye, running in and out of Poas office not to miss the chance to say a last goodbye to our co-year.
Do you remember prom and graduation?
Luckily, we managed it in one day and although this sounds crazy - to organize both important high school events on the same date. UWCCR is like this, crazy and unpredictable. The staff and student body worked hard to organize graduation in the afternoon and prom in the evening. We dressed up to honour our second years and applaud their achievements after one and half years of IB stress. What made graduation special is when the first years gathered together to sing “Memories” by Maroon 5 to our second years. We are definitely not professional singers, and we were far from making our second years cry with our beautiful voices. But what made the tears drop is when we ran to hug them, and wish them good luck for their future. We shared positive compliments and pictured our last moments with them.
It was a crowd of emotions: joy, sadness, hope, positivity, even hate toward COVID-19, but essentially, it was love. Love for this place, but also love for these people who would always stay in our hearts. Love in particular for this “generation that never really graduated” (UWCCR’20). A generation that helped me grow and learn so much, a generation that has made my days brighter, and most importantly, a generation that we should never forget because they are the bravest ones
After the graduation then came prom! If you thought graduation was emotional, prom was way worse. We were at a moment of euphoria dancing and singing as loud as we could because it was the last moment of partying at this crazy campus. Even if COVID-19 did not want us to be happy, the pandemic did not know how strong UWCCR students are. Some students were crying on the side, others were comforting, and some even ran away from the party to say goodbye and still, the majority of us were still jumping everywhere on the music beat. It was a chaos of emotions, and we did not want the music to end because that meant that it was over. We never wanted this moment to last.
What makes UWC Costa Rica special is the emotional adventure that you are going to embark on. I say in a positive sense that you will learn empathy, become stronger but also learn what it is to have a bond with a foreign stranger. These are just one of the emotions you can experience at this campus. Also, what makes this place special is the student body. They are strong, bold, smart, determined, and life-changers. Thanks to them, I learned the idea of giving back to my community and peers.
One of the most important lessons that these crazy people have taught me is that I can have an impact on anyone, in any kind of way. This is why my campus has such a big heart because, at the end of the journey, your heart makes you feel the need to give back to the community and your heart feels the need to come back to Costa Rica because we are a united family. We share love, kindness, and the same Pura Vida (Pure life) together.
For all UWC-ers around the globe affected by the pandemic and who are missing their co-years, I wanted to let you know that your UWC journey has not ended. It will still continue, and you will always have a special connection with your co-years. There are plenty of ways to reconnect, be creative, and continue to stay safe at home and be excited to welcome your firsties next year. The generation 2021, would have a different relationship with their first years, a relationship that no other generation would have experienced. We are going to overcome everything, be creative to make this academic year amazing. You are going home, but your heart stays at your UWC.
For all UWC-ers around the globe affected by the pandemic and who are missing their co-years, I wanted to let you know that your UWC journey has not ended. It will still continue, and you will always have a special connection with your co-years. There are plenty of ways to reconnect, be creative, and continue to stay safe at home and be excited to welcome your firsties next year. The generation 2021, would have a different relationship with their first years, a relationship that no other generation would have experienced. We are going to overcome everything, be creative to make this academic year amazing. You are going home, but your heart stays at your UWC.
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