Class of 2026

Mia has read almost every profile on our website from previous years. I asked her if any stood out to her, but the answer I got was: “They’re all amazing – oh, now I get to have one too!” When you talk to Mia, you get genuine reactions and sincere words. I always feel a kind of positive pressure when I write these profiles. I want each person to recognize themselves in the words and feel proud. After talking to her, I got a bit nervous. She doesn’t like when this gets mentioned too often, but she wrote her first book before she even reached double digits in age. You can probably understand why I felt the pressure now.

Throughout the whole selection process and the time since, Mia has shown an incredible motivation to become a part of UWC. I asked her what part of the process she liked most, and she mentioned something meaningful from every phase over the past few months. In the first round, she loved the questions, especially the creative essay prompt. In the second round, her favorite part (and this is a popular one) was meeting so many new people. She was, of course, eagerly waiting for the results, but it didn’t really matter to her which country she would end up in. As she put it: “When you commit to something, you should see it through.”

These answers aren’t just interesting to retell – they reveal how Mia experiences the world. She sees every moment as a chance to learn and grow. When she spoke about the application, she knew exactly which parts challenged her. One of the essays pushed her to tell a story that was uniquely hers and showed off her creative side. The group activities and friendships from the second round excited her because through meeting new people, she gets to understand how others think and why. When waiting to find out which college she’d be going to, she told me: “It didn’t matter where I’d go. I’m going for the UWC experience, not the country.” That line alone showed me how curious and open Mia is, and ready to feel at home wherever she lands.

As flexible as she is, Mia also brings a strong sense of determination and grit. She represented her school at a Youth Assembly – an opportunity where she could actively participate in shaping youth priorities for local change. She loves traveling and learning about other cultures. Right now, she’s focused on memorizing all the world’s capital cities, after having already mastered listing every country in record time. For Mia, this is a curiosity-fueled hobby, but she also sees it as a meaningful way to connect with people, with places, and with conversations. In fact, it’s more accurate to say that she doesn’t just want to learn about people and cultures – she wants to learn with and from them. It’s a perfect balance of introspection and insightfulness.

The excitement Mia brings to simple joys in life and to UWC reminds me how lucky I am to meet such inspiring, ambitious people every year. At UWC Thailand, I’m confident Mia will carry her passions and skills with her, form deep friendships, and build strong connections with the local community.

Jana Kraleva

July, 2025

You only need a couple of minutes conversing with Kaja to realize that she’s one of those friendly people who can turn any place into something that feels like home, the very presence of her company makes you feel welcomed and at ease.

Born and raised in Skopje, Kaja knew from an early age that she wanted to become a doctor. She laughs at how her parents tried to steer her away from it, gently nudging her toward anything except a career in medicine, but her mind remained unchanged. Recently after she visited a hospital in Skopje that made her even more certain that her future career will be in the field of medicine.

She remembers the moment that changed everything: “When my mom fell ill, there was a nurse who sat down and talked to us. She didn’t just list the necessary treatments; she explained everything to us, she comforted us and stayed with us for three hours. That’s who I want to be — not just someone who treats an illness but someone who makes it feel bearable. Someone who brings comfort and humanity.”

In just a few weeks, Kaja will be on her way to UWC Mahindra in India, a journey her parents were nervous about at first. “But I convinced them” she says with a soft laugh that reveals a quiet determination.

At Mahindra, Kaja will study Biology and Chemistry at a higher level, already laying down the bricks of her dream to work in the oncology department one day. She knows it won’t be easy. Everyone tells her that. But if you spend even five minutes talking to Kaja, you’ll understand she’s never been the kind of person to shy away from difficult things, especially when they involve caring for people.

Kaja’s life is stitched together with the little communities she’s built and loved. Her debate club has been one of her proudest journeys. With two friends and a beloved mentor, Kaja made it to 8th place at the World Debate Championship. “Debate made me the person I am today,” she says. “I met so many people, I learned how to speak up and most importantly how to listen.”

She also volunteers with the Red Cross — She’d say: “It feels more like hanging out with friends than working” She finds comfort and recreates on forest trails hiking with her lion-hearted dog Kan, who sleeps beside her every night in the past nine years. “That’s what I’ll miss most about Skopje — not so much the city, but my dog. He’s my home.”

It’s no surprise that she’s already visualizing the look of her dorm wall at Mahindra — a display of photos from her family, friends, her dog, her favorite memories frozen in time giving her comfort and support. A tiny keychain made by a friend will come too — her little talisman of luck, carried everywhere she goes.

Near the end of our meeting I asked Kaja where she sees herself in ten years, presumably her answer felt like something she was already actively striving towards every day. Of course it’s medical school first, then afterward maybe oncology, maybe research in pharmacogenomics — a field she talks about with an energy that makes you believe she’ll find a way to bring it closer to people’s lives. “Cancer is not just an individual disease,” she says. “It affects the whole family. I want to help them all — the patient and everyone concerned around them.”

Kaja’s idea of home has never really been tied to one address. It’s something carried in the heart and which she builds and upgrades in every group she joins, with every friend she makes, every small moment of care and compassion she gives and receives, every place she visits. And wherever the road takes her next, she’ll bring that same sense of belonging with her humanity and positivity — and always give the best to the people lucky enough to cross her path and be part of her world. 

Zorica’s introspective nature undoubtedly allows her to understand the world and herself as part of it on a deeper level. One July evening we went out for coffee and she shared with me an interesting concept about how she examines and questions her and other people’s reactions in given situations, looking for the root cause of them. This way, she builds tolerance and understanding while taking into consideration her differences and those of the people around her. When I heard this, it was clear to me why Zorica is interested in studying International Relations.

I don’t doubt that these virtues will also serve her well when she goes to UWC ISAK Japan, where she plans to get involved in the student government’s communication team.  Through this, she wants to contribute in the establishment of better relations and communication between the student body, the faculty and the school administration. It is especially selfless that Zorica wishes to provide the help to her peers that she felt she needed but didn’t get while she was studying here. In addition to this, she plans to continue studying Biology which she already has a good grasp on due to years of  competing in this field.

From social to natural sciences, Zorica’s interests are diverse, even beyond the classroom. If you ever find yourself on Shar Planina and are eager for adventure, Zorica would be the right person to take you and show you its untouched natural landscapes!  She spends part of her free time helping her uncle as a hiking tour guide on wild trails on which you can see wild horses. I didn’t know they were here, so close to us, but you will learn everything from Zorica! 🙂

The hospitality she provides to the visitors of these tours, she also shares with her loved ones. From baking cookies, to filling jars of Ajvar – Zorica loves to cook. Sharing food resembles a way to connect with family and friends for her. How cute! She even taught me a recipe for making sourdough bread. I was positively surprised by her dedication to this craft – every day throughout her summer break, she had an alarm at a specific time at which she would go back home earlier from hanging out with friends, only to “feed” the yeast for the dough.

Even though the long journey to Japan scares her a little, Zorica still believes she will find herself there. She has already started finding different ways to get closer to Japanese culture.  She mentioned she was interested in reading something from certain Japanese authors and that she also plans to learn the Japanese language while she is at UWC ISAK Japan. She believes this will help her to truly immerse herself in the local culture and to experience Japan better. The only thing that remains is to take the good will and adventurous spirit she has gained in the wilderness of Shar Planina with her to where the college is located on Mount Asama – her new home! 

Ivana Cvetanoska

You are outside and you need to write something down, but you forgot to take a pen with you? No worries, Lina has a solution for you (I’m writing from personal experience)! In her bag, she carries anything and everything, always and everywhere – it reminded me of that one of Mary Poppins. If you wish to play the guitar, she will take out a pick for you, and if you need to mark a page in a book, she will also have a bookmark to lend you – a pen is nothing! One July evening, we had a coffee together in Kashmir and she offered me a whole palette of colorful pens so I could write something down. Some of them she prefers to use for her exams, while others for taking notes and what not… Lina is always ready for everything 😊

Behind almost everything Lina owns, there is a story about how it ended up with her. It seems to me that everything she carries with her or wears on her is contributing to a collage of memories from time spent with her loved ones. Her skirt caught my eye, so I complimented her, and she immediately told me a story of how she “stole” it from her mother’s wardrobe. The necklace, on the other hand, was a story about an adventure with Anabela when they went to a flea market. Lina showed me how the sentimental value of objects is experienced and how it is more important than the material one.

Lina is especially joyful and friendly, and she won’t turn down an invitation to a party with good music to dance to. Speaking of music, it’s no coincidence that Lina inherited her taste from her father. They bond over listening to everything from jazz to rock. One day, while they were driving to a biology competition, Lina just then received the email that she had been accepted to UWC! Besides the moment being accompanied with few tears of joy, she and her father also played Under Pressure by the legendary David Bowie and Queen!

With Lina, you can talk about literally everything – from tautology and trigonometry, which are fields in which she is particularly skilled even though she leans more towards the social sciences and humanities, all the way to which types of clay dishes were used in Pompeii for storing olive oil! Since she was a child, she was interested in reading and listening about all types of things, and she especially loved watching educational documentaries on Animal Planet and Viasat History. Back then, this was a way for her to learn about the world from the comfort of her home.

Although Lina’s open mind and curiosity make her cosmopolitan at heart, she knows her roots. During her years at school for Macedonian traditional dances, she learned a lot about our ethnological and cultural heritage and how to appreciate it equally as much as anyone else’s. This fall, we are sending Lina to UWC Pearson in Canada, where she will not only have the opportunity to learn about the world, but also experience it in a literal sense! In addition, she will have the chance to share Macedonian folk dances and costumes with peers from all over the world. She is especially excited to be the first student from Macedonia to study the CALD (Climate Action Leadership Diploma) program! 

“There’s no situation I can think of—washing a cup, walking around, eating—where you can’t listen to house music,” he said during our conversation. It became immediately clear: music isn’t just something he enjoys; it’s a rhythm that carries him through his day, a soundtrack to both the ordinary and the extraordinary.

But when the music quiets down, another side of Novak comes into light—the one deeply committed to making change. As a dedicated member of the Union of High School Students, he held multiple leadership roles, most recently as Head of Research and Development, where he advocated for free public transportation for high school students across Macedonia.

Through the Union, he also found something he values deeply: meaningful friendships beyond borders. He speaks often about how the Union gave him the chance to be part of a community outside Macedonia. 

Travel is one of his favorite parts of the experience. Not just for the chance to see new places, but for the opportunity to sit across from someone with a completely different story and realize they’re fighting for the same future. Thanks to his involvement with the Union, Novak has represented Macedonia in Bologna, Budapest, and now Brussels, taking part in dynamic policy discussions and youth assemblies where students debate everything from climate action and education equity to digital rights and democratic participation.

During a trip to Budapest organized by the Union with his Macedonian friend Anja, he met students from Germany, Romania, and Austria, and now they all are close friends who remain in touch even after their time in Budapest. That experience, where they spent evenings together bonding and learning from one another, left a lasting impression on him. He’s mentioned more than once how important good company is to him, not just for fun, but for growth, understanding, and joy.

That drive also shines through in his passion for justice. As a participant in Model United Nations in Macedonia, Novak engages in diplomatic debates and tackles complex global challenges. He dreams of working at the United Nations one day, not because of prestige, but because he believes in a world where decisions are guided by empathy, not money. That clarity of purpose, coupled with his sincere humility, is rare and inspiring.

And while his ambitions span continents, Novak’s loyalty to his friends stands out. He speaks warmly about his closest friend, who happens to be from Slovenia, and his time at an international school in Skopje has only deepened his global outlook. When I asked why he chose UWC, his answer was simple but unforgettable: “I simply don’t want to be ignorant.” For him, going to UWC means not only a world-class education, but the chance to live and grow among people from all over the world.

Now, Novak is headed to UWC Maastricht, the only UWC located near The Hague—home of the International Court of Justice. It’s not hard to imagine him there, notebook in hand, immersed in HL Global Politics, surrounded by peers who care just as deeply. Because for Novak, whether it’s through music, activism, or diplomacy, one thing is certain: he moves through the world with both curiosity and conviction.

2023

The referee blows the whistle to kick off the second half. It’s FC Rabotnichki vs. FC Shkendija. Tied so far. Riste Zlatev is at the goal. Shkendija’s striker receives the ball. He runs towards Riste, who gets ready to jump. Darkness. 

Riste wakes up under glaring hospital lights. His head hurts.

2013

Having freshly moved from Kavadarci to Skopje, Riste and his mom are on a Skype call with his dad. Ljubica shares that Riste is an active kid, full of energy. To tire him out she suggests activities: taekwondo, swimming, basketball. But he likes football training the most. The coach lets them run until they drop. His dad, calling from the US, tells him to be a striker. But Riste knows that one day he’ll be a goalkeeper for Bayern Munich.

2014

I go to the first activities fair at UWC Robert Bosch. I don’t even glance in the direction of the football stand. I pick frisbee, which I believe to be the least sporty of the sports on offer.

2019

Riste is in eighth grade and he likes math and physics. His grades are great. But other than football training, he doesn’t go out much. He watches TV at home. He hasn’t talked to his dad in a while.

2014

Breathless, I rue the day of the activities fair. At least the football players have an audience. No one bothers to come and watch frisbee games. 

2023

The coach brings him pastries to the hospital. His friends come to visit. Riste is sure that, when the headache lightens, he’ll be back on the field. The doctor doesn’t agree. 

To take his mind off the injury, his friend Borjana invites Riste to a debate class. It’s two weeks before the national championship. Even with limited training, Riste and his team make the semifinals. The next year, Riste is the 11th best speaker in the country.

2016

Two months after graduating, I come back to the campus of UWC Robert Bosch. We’re organizing a Short course – three weeks, ~30 students. A mini UWC experience. 

2024

Riste gets an email that he isn’t accepted to UWC, but he is offered a spot at a Short Course. The one in Germany.

2025

Riste applies to UWC again. This time, he sees himself as calmer and more inspired. He talks to his mom, driving through Skopje. They listen to Toshe Proevski (and Jon Bon Jovi, and Zheljko Joksimovic). He thanks her for all the support. 

In March, Riste responds to my email after only a few hours. “I am honored to be nominated and to become a part of the UWC experience.”

***

Riste is the fifth Macedonian to attend UWC Robert Bosch College. He’ll join a campus that last year celebrated its tenth birthday. I can’t wait for him to leave his mark on RBC’s second decade.

Bobo Stankovikj, august 2025

I wasn’t in attendance at the second round selection weekend, so the first time I perceived Daniel beyond a voice on a recording was in his “This is Me” video. He was kneading dough while talking about his interests and dreams. I am not quite a baker, but I know that, in order for the dough to rise, you need warmth, a good ratio of the ingredients, and to be patient. It seems to me that Daniel takes on life as a baker would when handling dough.

As a kid, Daniel was shy and reserved. In the last few years, he’s noticed some changes – he started being very open to discussions and stating his mind honestly and with confidence. In order to accomplish that, he found that trying new things and getting out of his comfort zone helped him immensely. He started volunteering – at a children’s hospital, a school for visually impaired people, and many events. These experiences strengthened his sense of urgency to be an active member of his community. Daniel started being more conscious of the lack of information and awareness that people around him had about experiences and things that are not a part of their daily life. He constructively criticised volunteering opportunities that only happen around holidays or when people choose to give, instead of when it’s needed – “Why don’t we show that we care about people year-round?” said Daniel. He does not like it when things are dealt with at a surface-level.

Something that truly helped him develop intellectually were all the debates he participated in through the Youth Education Forum in Skopje. He patiently learned how to look at issues from more than one perspective and how to come up with arguments for stances he does not necessarily agree with. Through this learning process, he researched information on a variety of topics which  has helped him shape and strengthen his personal views. A topic that he has studied which remains important to him is equal access to education. He eloquently explained what causes hurt the development of the education system in other parts of Macedonia, compared to the capital city of Skopje, and gave us examples from systems in other countries from which we could learn a few things.

While paying attention to inequalities around him, Daniel is also dedicated to his personal educational development. Chemistry and biology are his home court, but he wishes to continue building his knowledge in those fields at UWC. He knows exactly which subjects he will take, and he is already thinking about potential higher education and career decisions. In an ideal scenario, Daniel would like to study medicine, and his dream is to become a part of Doctors Without Borders, so that he can offer his time wherever it is needed most. I am sure that he will excel wherever his career path takes him.

On a less serious note – he told me that a lot of his conversations involve this question “You’re going to New Mexico? Have you watched Breaking Bad?”. As a recent fan of the show, I can assure you that Daniel’s experience at UWC USA will look nothing like that plot. At the same time, I am certain that every day and every challenge that this new chapter brings him, will leave him with the same sensation one gets when you just have to watch “only” one more episode. I can write a lot more about Daniel, but I believe that this is enough to capture the sincerity he radiates and dedication he shows. He will bring these qualities to UWC USA and find his place within the community – farewell, Daniel!

Vasil comes from a great high school in the lovely Bitola – his humility would probably make him think that this is how I would describe him. Last weekend, we had a conversation to get to know each other outside the selection process, and throughout our talk, I kept noticing how authentic Vasil is. He’s a unique mix of extroversion and calmness. What you see is what you get – there’s no filtered or insincere version of him. I even went back to watch his “This is Me” video from the third round of selection. I’m not sure if he’d change anything about it now, but I really liked the simple yet meaningful concept he followed. That’s how I see Vasil – clear, direct, and thoughtful.

He told us about all his interests, switching between four different languages as he spoke. He mentioned his passion about learning languages several times, and I was genuinely impressed by how intentional his approaches are. He’s experimented with different strategies, figured out what helps him expand his vocabulary, and learned how to study more efficiently. He’s pushed himself out of his comfort zone too – the last time he was in Germany, he made it a point to speak only in German to practice immersive exposure. Every language I heard him speak sounded like he grew up with it.

What really stood out to me throughout this whole process is how easy Vasil makes it to feel comfortable around him. True to his extroverted nature, he shared anecdotes and jokes that tied into what we were talking about – online school during COVID, social life, travels. But he’s also a great listener. After each of my questions, he’d ask something back, genuinely curious about my experiences. Aside from feeling slightly old because of some generational differences, I noticed that Vasil never really talked about himself. Instead, he’d paint a picture of the atmosphere or the context in his stories and always seemed interested in my life before and after UWC.

He joked a few times that if I had nothing to write, I could just make something up. But in the short time I’ve known him, he’s never lacked substance or character. He even told me he hadn’t mentioned to anyone that he got into UWC until the school year was done. He didn’t want everyone waiting on news, or for every conversation to revolve around his departure – he just wanted to enjoy the last few weeks at school as if nothing had changed. Moments like that reveal a reserved side of him that helps him make thoughtful decisions in everyday life.

“The best way to grow as a person is to open yourself up to new experiences and challenges,” Vasil said. “And that’s what I hope to do alongside others at UWC.” I know the curiosity and authenticity he brings to every interaction will help him connect deeply with the people he’ll meet at UWC Li Po Chun. 

Ants are part of an organized system. They have their own rooms, societies, civilizations. And they trust one another – sometimes so much that they create the so-called “circle of death”: a phenomenon where hundreds of ants march one behind the other until they lose their breath.

Anabela shared this with me when she explained the meaning behind a bag that holds a special memory from the café Bukva. The empathy with which she spoke about ants is a reflection of her character – her care for others and her understanding that humans are just one small link in the mosaic of the world. “Humans and nature are connected: wherever you look – whether at tree trunks or leaves – you can find the mark of a person,” she says. She values every life equally and emphasizes that the love we show towards the smallest creatures reflects our most important traits.

I met her for the first time during the second round of interviews, where she immediately warmed my heart by speaking so passionately about the beauty and diversity of Macedonian dialects and speech. Her love for languages has been nurtured since childhood, through the multiple languages she knows and through the projects she’s involved in. She explores comparative differences between languages – both semantically and morphologically – and pointed out examples of relationships between Macedonian and English, as well as French and Italian.

In Skopje, Anabela is always in search of art and beauty. You can find her at festivals, exhibitions, and theater performances. KEM is her favorite band, and she deeply appreciates the approach of young Macedonian performers: “you can talk to them, they’ll help you out, they’ll even play your favorite song live.” Anabela would say: “Skopje and Macedonia have music and soul.” She inherited her artistic side from her grandmother, who once lived in a matriarchal ethnic community in China and now passes on her experiences through her artistic work.

She develops her adventurous spirit daily. When her uncle and aunt hosted volunteers from Mauritius and Italy, it was Anabela who sparked the adrenaline. They woke up at 4 a.m. just to experience the sunrise at Matka – bringing peaches, water, lots of joy, openness, and good energy. She’s eagerly awaiting to welcome her friends from UWC to Skopje with “young goat cheese, Macedonian mozzarella, and falafel.”

We often say that any student can fit into any UWC college. And that’s true – but her kindness, her openness to building community with both the familiar and the unfamiliar, her love for nature and people, her sense of adventure, and her eagerness to discover the unknown, are reasons I feel proud that my home in Tanzania will also be hers.

We are all ants, walking one behind the other. Anabela is one of them. But instead of only walking forward, simply following the ant in front of her – her love, empathy, and warmth are always extending a hand to the one behind her. We dream of a circle like that. Until then, I wish Anabela to continue sharing her selflessness with the world.

While talking with Aleksandar, one quickly gets the feeling that he is someone who knows how to get the most out of every opportunity. (maximizes the outcome of every given chance) When I asked him to describe himself, he didn’t use many words — patient, curious, respectful — yet you realize these three words stretch wide open when you see how he lives by them. 

Aleksandar grew up in Skopje, spent his first two high school years at Orce Nikolov before deciding he was ready for something more — something that would push him far beyond the limits of the city he loves so much. That something turned out to be UWC Adriatic in Italy. He learned about UWC through a friend and he realised that the value of this educational opportunity aligns with his own merits and principles. “I always wanted to challenge myself” he says and he really means it. You can see it in the way he talks about stepping out of his comfort zone: “Life is short and I see no reason for spending it in a protective bubble. I want to meet new people, experience new places.”

He’s no stranger in doing exactly that. In December 2022, Aleksandar joined an Erasmus exchange program in Poland, where he discovered just how transformative it can be to live, learn and laugh alongside people from all over Europe. 

Before he leaves for UWC, Aleksandar is spending this summer savoring what’s here and now before jumping into what’s next. Knowing that UWC Adriatic is famous for being bike-friendly, he borrowed his cousin’s bicycle and made it his mission to rediscover Skopje on two wheels, with feet on the pedals, music in his ears and eyes wide open. He even made a bucket list — thirty things to do before his departure, one of them being “Step foot in every borough of Skopje in 24 hours” (sounds like a challenge to me!) He is one step ahead and already has a Google Doc in which he is keeping track of the universities where he wishes to continue his education after UWC. “My cousin inspired me to do this,” he says, “He told me: do it now, enjoy later.” 

Mind you, ask him about memorable places that he treasures, in that case, Aleksandar won’t talk about skyscrapers — even though he once stood among the shimmering glass giants of Dubai for his brother’s graduation from NYU Abu Dhabi. “Skyscrapers are nice” he shrugs, “but only for a minute. I’d rather be by the sea.” His happiest place? The Greek coastline — salty sea air, open clear sky, endless horizons. Adventurous is one way to describe him, but infinite curiosity with bravery might fit better. At Adriatic he wants to try mountain biking, kayaking, mountaineering and of course the beach life on the Mediterranean coast. “I want to do it all” he laughs, fully aware there won’t be enough hours in a day for every plan of his.

At UWC Adriatic, he’s planning on studying Economics and Global Politics at Higher Level, plus Math Analysis and Interpretation. He is being well calculated in his decisions, though, having chosen a Higher Level Mathematics Analysis and Interpretations course, he is spending some of this time going over the math syllabus and filling the knowledge gaps. He’s open, though other than Math — his enthusiasm and curiosity refuses to stand still — so Italian, Biology and Macedonian Literature will travel with him too.

When he thinks about what he’ll miss, it’s a mix of small pleasures and big loves: the burek from Silbo bakery, stuffed with chicken fillet; the sound of Vlado Janevski’s song ‘Ova e nase Skopje’ blasting in his headphones; the warm ache of Tose Proeski songs that sound like home. And of course, his family — and his room, his nest that’s about to be swapped for something bigger and far less predictable.

Before we finished our chat, Aleksandar turned the questions back on me. “What do you regret not doing during your time at UWC?” he asked. It’s a typical Aleksandar-kind-of-question: he’s already thinking about living life without regrets, with lungs full of excitement, with a bucket list ready and open road leading him to knowledge, adventure, self-discovery.