{"id":357,"date":"2025-07-17T14:27:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/?page_id=357"},"modified":"2025-09-19T01:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T23:04:21","slug":"class-2022","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/en\/class-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"--background-color:#ad1644;--width:100%;--max-width:;--margin-top:0;--margin-right:;--margin-bottom:0;--margin-left:;--padding-top:0;--padding-right:0;--padding-bottom:0;--padding-left:0\" class=\"wp-block-studio14-blocks-section-block\">\n<div style=\"--background-color:transparent;--width:100%;--max-width:90rem;--margin-top:0;--margin-right:auto;--margin-bottom:0;--margin-left:auto;--padding-top:1rem;--padding-right:10rem;--padding-bottom:1rem;--padding-left:10rem\" class=\"wp-block-studio14-blocks-section-block saat-about\"><h1 class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-88f0857fdc8bad98dfdc5c16977574b2 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-white-color\">Class of 2022<\/h1>\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-2oawaier1 {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-2oawaier1 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-2oawaier1 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-2oawaier1\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif;--custom-paddingtop:0;--custom-paddingtop-tablet:0;--custom-paddingtop-mobile:0\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the beginning of the summer of 2020, Bobo Stankovikj, one of the national committee members, sat down for a casual chat with each of our new students. We hope these profiles help you get to know them!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"uwc-filters__section uwc-filters__section--mt16\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"uwc-filter__label\">Filter<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"country_filter\" class=\"sr-only\">All schools and colleges<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<select name=\"country\" id=\"countryfilter\" class=\"uwc-filter__select uwc-filter__select--lg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"\">All schools and colleges<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"2022\">2022<\/option><option value=\"2023\">2023<\/option><option value=\"2024\">2024<\/option><option value=\"2025\">2025<\/option><option value=\"2026\">2026<\/option><option value=\"2027\">2027<\/option><option value=\"uwc-adriatic\">UWC Adriatic<\/option><option value=\"uwc-atlantic\">UWC Atlantic<\/option><option value=\"uwc-changshu\">UWC Changshu<\/option><option value=\"uwc-costa-rica\">UWC Costa Rica<\/option><option value=\"uwc-dilijan\">UWC Dilijan<\/option><option value=\"uwc-east-africa\">UWC East Africa<\/option><option value=\"uwc-isak\">UWC Isak<\/option><option value=\"uwc-li-po-chun\">UWC Li Po Chun<\/option><option value=\"uwc-maastricht\">UWC Maastricht<\/option><option value=\"uwc-mahindra\">UWC Mahindra<\/option><option value=\"uwc-mostar\">UWC Mostar<\/option><option value=\"uwc-pearson\">UWC Pearson<\/option><option value=\"uwc-red-cross-nordic\">UWC Red Cross Nordic<\/option><option value=\"uwc-robert-bosch\">UWC Robert Bosch<\/option><option value=\"uwc-south-east-asia\">UWC South East Asia<\/option><option value=\"uwc-thailand\">UWC Thailand<\/option><option value=\"uwc-usa\">UWC USA<\/option><option value=\"uwc-waterford-kamhlaba\">UWC Waterford Kamhlaba<\/option>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<section class=\"custom-saat-card__container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__wrapper  \" \n\t\t\t\tdata-hidden-alumni='[&quot;349&quot;,&quot;346&quot;,&quot;342&quot;,&quot;338&quot;,&quot;335&quot;,&quot;329&quot;,&quot;326&quot;,&quot;318&quot;,&quot;311&quot;,&quot;315&quot;,&quot;294&quot;,&quot;3&quot;,&quot;5&quot;,&quot;7&quot;,&quot;391&quot;,&quot;425&quot;,&quot;422&quot;,&quot;419&quot;,&quot;416&quot;,&quot;410&quot;,&quot;413&quot;,&quot;405&quot;,&quot;401&quot;,&quot;398&quot;,&quot;513&quot;,&quot;510&quot;,&quot;507&quot;,&quot;504&quot;,&quot;501&quot;,&quot;498&quot;,&quot;495&quot;,&quot;491&quot;,&quot;488&quot;,&quot;485&quot;,&quot;482&quot;,&quot;436&quot;,&quot;439&quot;,&quot;445&quot;,&quot;448&quot;,&quot;451&quot;,&quot;457&quot;,&quot;454&quot;,&quot;479&quot;,&quot;476&quot;,&quot;471&quot;,&quot;463&quot;,&quot;460&quot;,&quot;1404&quot;,&quot;1401&quot;,&quot;1396&quot;,&quot;1393&quot;,&quot;1391&quot;,&quot;1389&quot;,&quot;1386&quot;,&quot;1380&quot;,&quot;1366&quot;,&quot;1373&quot;,&quot;1377&quot;]'\n\t\t\t\tdata-enable-hiding='true'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/Artan.jpg\" alt=\"Artan Kadriu\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArtan Kadriu\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Curiosity<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/Artan.jpg\" alt=\"Artan Kadriu\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArtan Kadriu\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Curiosity<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Curiosity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-yayas99a7 {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-yayas99a7 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-yayas99a7 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-yayas99a7\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we chat, Artan drifts from one idea to the next. He is a well-read and principled 17-year-old: he analyzes the film &#8220;Snowpiercer&#8221; (a metaphor for social segregation) and tells me about political theories on the development of democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-9sn93tjff {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-9sn93tjff {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-9sn93tjff {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-9sn93tjff\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His story begins in Morain, a village on the outskirts of Skopje. He grew up in a small community, where everyone knows each other. The way he describes his village is evocative of another small community: a United World College. In Morani, much of his childhood was spent appreciating nature. &#8220;When I was little, we grew watermelons,&#8221; he tells me. He is excited to maintain ties with his village during his time in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-7ibgu1xk3 {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-7ibgu1xk3 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-7ibgu1xk3 {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-7ibgu1xk3\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before taking the 6 a.m. bus to &#8220;Zef Lush Marku&#8221;, his school in Skopje, Artan often went for a walk. Watching the sunrise calmed him down (&#8220;after it I always felt peace inside myself&#8221;), which was much needed in his environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-chx8wawtf {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-chx8wawtf {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-chx8wawtf {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-chx8wawtf\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Artan loves reading. In his application, he says that books taught him &#8220;to listen before I speak.&#8221; The desire to learn came from within, although the circumstances were not always appropriate. But he found ways and used his love of reading to create a community around him. In the seventh grade, Artan brought the book &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; with him. Most of the students had seen the movie, but they did not know that &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; was a series of books. Artan suggested they read together. With this, a group of students interested in reading was created, and some students even went with him to the library in Skopje to borrow books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n                    .spacer-mhbh6z0ei {\n                        height: 20px;\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 1024px) and (min-width: 768px) {\n                        .spacer-mhbh6z0ei {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                    \n                    @media (max-width: 767px) {\n                        .spacer-mhbh6z0ei {\n                            height: 20px;\n                        }\n                    }\n                <\/style><div class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block spacer-mhbh6z0ei\" data-desktop-height=\"20px\" data-tablet-height=\"20px\" data-mobile-height=\"20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it is not known when he will arrive at his UWC school &#8211; Singapore has frozen the process of obtaining visas &#8211; Artan has a clear vision. He knows his subjects (including Global Politics, Physics as well as his native language, Albanian), and he may want to study at a university in the US. The Liberal Arts program, where you can study many subjects at the same time, piques his curiosity. I asked him if he plans to return to his homeland. Without hesitation, he answered &#8220;Absolutely yes.&#8221; We have a lot to do here in Macedonia, he says, especially in the education system (He quickly listed several proposals for reforms &#8211; reducing the number of subjects taught in school and increasing the quality of teachers were at the top of his proposals). &#8220;We choose the easy way when we decide to emigrate, instead of staying in our homeland and working to change it,&#8221; he told me. But change requires sacrifice. As President John F. Kennedy said, &#8220;Ask not what your country can do for you..&#8221; Artan hopes that other students who have the opportunity to study abroad will also return to their homeland. As we were wrapping up, I asked Artan what advice he would give himself for the future. He answered briefly and clearly, &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget your goals.&#8221;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Communication.jpg\" alt=\"Marija Janeva\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarija Janeva\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Communication<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Communication.jpg\" alt=\"Marija Janeva\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarija Janeva\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Communication<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marija believes in the power of communication.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not about how many big words you use, or how long your sentence is,&#8221; says Marija, in her typically analytical way. Last year, her team won the national debate championship, but she didn&#8217;t stop there. She went on to compete again this year, and on June 18th, Marija was named the country&#8217;s best high school speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up, the 17-year-old debater wanted to get involved in the community, but unfortunately, sometimes the context didn\u2019t allow her to. &#8220;It frustrated me to see that you had to be 18, or in high school &#8212; I thought to myself \u201cHow come I can&#8217;t do this?\u201d Her community involvement has continued all throughout high school: &#8220;That&#8217;s how I began to form my own opinions and develop as a person.&#8221; Due to the experiences she&#8217;s had, Maria is a fantastic conversationalist: we talked about topics ranging from the Icelandic epic that she&#8217;s currently reading, to the benefits of practicing yoga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, Marija was an assistant-instructor in the Youth Educational Forum (YEF), and she wants to continue doing something similar at UWC Red Cross Nordic. &#8220;When I do something, I do it because I enjoy it&#8230; Every extracurricular activity I&#8217;ve been committed to was because I liked it and it was something I wanted for myself.&#8221; Although debate is the reason why she joined YEF, the like-minded people there are the reason she stayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Marija, there&#8217;s a huge difference between thoughts and how you communicate them. That&#8217;s why she admires musicians and authors who easily express their thoughts. The rapper Kendrick Lamar, for example, \u201cknows how to get his point across in his chill songs without making you feel attacked.\u201d In a discussion about To Kill a Mockingbird she told me &#8220;many people have the right ideas. But the true skill lies in how you express them. I might share Harper Lee&#8217;s opinions, but I wouldn&#8217;t know how to formulate it. It&#8217;s such a beautiful skill &#8212; to express a thought and have other people understand it.&#8221; Of course, Marija humbly refrained from mentioning that she herself can skillfully communicate, even as the debate judges evidently realized that pretty quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Norweigan embassy still hasn&#8217;t started issuing visas, so Marija isn&#8217;t sure when she&#8217;ll exactly be able to get to her college. She\u2019s already considered several alternatives. \u201cI always want to have different options. I&#8217;m not the type of person who&#8217;s bound to a routine, which is why I prefer to have many back-up plans instead of one. She&#8217;s already decided on the subjects she\u2019s taking: Global Politics, History and English Literature on a higher level. \u201cI know it won&#8217;t be easy, but, in a way, everything is a challenge. I can\u2019t avoid difficult subjects&#8230; I wouldn&#8217;t want to have my options limited just because I was too lazy to study a bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marija isn&#8217;t sure about what she&#8217;ll do in the future, but whatever it is, she&#8217;s sure that it&#8217;s going to involve helping people. &#8220;I need to know that what I&#8217;m doing is, in a way, useful. I don&#8217;t want to work just so that I can pay my bills. At the end of the day, I want to feel like I have the power to make a difference. I want to know I&#8217;ve done something that impacts other people positively. &#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Introspection.jpg\" alt=\"Vesna Uzunova\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVesna Uzunova\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Introspection<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Introspection.jpg\" alt=\"Vesna Uzunova\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVesna Uzunova\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Introspection<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vesna is introspective.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having grown up in Valandovo with two sisters, Vesna had a lot of time to think. \u201cI think that when people hear \u2018Valandovo,\u2019 they think of a city, but it\u2019s really more of a rural environment. We do have a boulevard, but carriages dragged by four-legged animals use this boulevard every day.\u201d A few years ago, her sisters found some helpless kittens on their street. \u201cWe had to take care of them, but my sisters went abroad and the kittens stayed with me. I learned about feeding and care because of them.\u201d In this context, Vesna developed a sense of empathy which extends beyond animals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe one thing that I know won\u2019t change is that humanitarian work will be a part of what I\u2019ll do. Helping people, animals &#8212; that\u2019s what I\u2019m interested in.\u201d The seventeen year old high schooler has thought deeply about her role within the community. Even though she humbly mentioned that she doesn\u2019t know how she\u2019ll fit in at the College in Mostar, Vesna knows that she\u2019ll use the opportunity to contribute to the place where she grew up. \u201cI intend to go back home. If everyone is just thinking about going to a \u2018better place\u2019 and not helping improve things in the place where they came from, there\u2019s really no point. My goal is to educate myself better, and to go back to the community where I grew up. I definitely intend to live here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The connection with the environment around her is a trait that comes out of her family context. Already at a young age, Vesna began to appreciate art. She plays the guitar and sings. She\u2019s also interested in photography and painting, because her father and grandfather enjoyed painting themselves. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t imposed on me, it was just an art form that was available, one that I could see\u2026 It became sort of a hobby to take photos of landscapes and paint them as realistically as I could. \u201d Because of this, Vesna will take visual arts along with politics and English in Mostar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vesna is uniquely introspective. She says that she has one flaw: \u201cI\u2019m not particularly open to talking to people about myself until they ask me something.\u201d Still, she openly talked about her upcoming transition to Mostar (\u201ceven though I believe that I am well organised, I think that all of that will change as soon as I get there\u201d), about her relationship with her sisters (\u201cwithout them, I would not be the person that I am today\u201d), and about her tendency to underestimate herself (\u201cI\u2019ve missed out on things that could\u2019ve become a part of my life just because I thought that I wouldn\u2019t make it.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spent much of the conversation talking about animal cruelty. Vesna easily argued against animal testing (she mentioned that she had started developing her arguments while trying to convince her sisters) and she often goes back to her basic motivation: a clear moral compass. Vesna cares about animals, as well as about her community, \u201cbecause they\u2019re living things! It\u2019s very simple.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Motivation.jpg\" alt=\"Mateja Damchevski\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMateja Damchevski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Motivation<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Motivation.jpg\" alt=\"Mateja Damchevski\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMateja Damchevski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Motivation<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mateja is motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I started swimming because I wasn&#8217;t good at any sports that involved balls,&#8221; jokes 17-year-old Mateja, a member of the national swimming team. He&#8217;s been swimming for as long as he can remember, and he&#8217;s been successful in all swimming categories in many national and international competitions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The competitive spirit of swimming has shaped him as a person. &#8220;I used to get very angry when I&#8217;d lose a race. I had a rival my age who I had been swimming with since the age of five. I&#8217;d get annoyed whenever he&#8217;d win and I\u2019d make sure to beat him in the next race, but then he&#8217;d also get back at me, and that would just go on forever. Neither of us would ever give up.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though he plans on dedicating most of his time to studying and making new friends at UWC Thailand, Mateja doesn&#8217;t want to give up swimming. The values of teamwork and self-discipline he developed through swimming have influenced other aspects of his life, especially his eagerness for new experiences and challenges. Mateja&#8217;s very excited to be part of UWC Thailand\u2019s diverse student body. &#8220;A member of the National Committee introduced me to his friend from Thailand, who in turn introduced me to a guy from Spain. The Spaniard then connected me with 30 other students. All of them were way more supportive than I expected them to be. Always happy to help! We hit it off immediately.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Thailand, Mateja decided to take subjects like Economics, Business and Design Technology, which will help him with his future career in the international business sector. &#8220;Business can help you climb a few steps up the social ladder, but there&#8217;s always the risk of falling. However, I think that with perseverance, desire and ambition, you can help develop even the smallest businesses and improve the standard of living.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mateja thinks that it&#8217;s a great opportunity for private companies to be actively involved in helping the community. &#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t cost big corporations much to help the community. If, for example, a car company had a specific discount for low-income people to help them afford a car, that wouldn&#8217;t make much of a difference for the company&#8217;s profits, but it would make a world of difference for many members of the community.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new college is, of course, quite a long way from home. Mateja introspectively talks about how living in Skopje influenced him: &#8220;It built my character, it helped me feel confident and independent enough to go to a place like Thailand.&#8221; He&#8217;s a bit sad to leave his highschool friends from &#8220;Georgi Dimitrov&#8221;, but he&#8217;s sure that they&#8217;ll stay in touch. Some of them have already made plans to visit him in his new school!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Enthusiasm.jpg\" alt=\"Filip Goshevski\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFilip Goshevski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Enthusiasm<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Enthusiasm.jpg\" alt=\"Filip Goshevski\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFilip Goshevski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Enthusiasm<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Filip is full of enthusiasm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I asked him about his future high school &#8212; UWC Maastricht, the Netherlands &#8212; his eyes opened wide. During the last interview of the selection process, candidates tend to have a good idea of which College they want to go to. They usually know whether the College is in an urban or rural environment and which courses they want to take. Filip\u2019s enthusiasm was different. He already knew that he wanted to go to Maastricht specifically, mentioning the community-outreach extracurriculars (Filip has worked with the Red Cross), the project weeks focused on social entrepreneurship, and the various conferences organised by the College students.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He isn\u2019t passionate only about UWC. Filip is wholeheartedly engaged in Smojmirovo, a village near Berovo, where he grew up. He describes Smojmirovo as a \u201cvery, very, very, very small place\u201d, where \u201ceveryone knows everyone else\u201d. But, that didn\u2019t stop him from actively participating in science competitions. Even when adults around him weren\u2019t supportive &#8212; it had happened that he would be told \u201cdon\u2019t study so much, go outside and rest a bit\u201d &#8212; Filip continued to maintain his drive. Already in the sixth grade he made it to a state competition in biology, starting his long relationship with the natural sciences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m absolutely fascinated by how the human body works.\u201d His experience with natural sciences motivates Filip to study medicine in the future. Again, with a voice full of joy, he told me how he\u2019s already preparing for his new academic curriculum. He is practicing German, and if he could have, he would have taken four (instead of three) higher level subjects: chemistry, biology, English and German. While we were talking, Filip easily slipped in ideas and individuals that he\u2019d read about. For instance, he told me about John Adler, a neurosurgeon at Stanford University, as an example of a possible roadmap for his own future.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like any high schooler, Filip sometimes isn\u2019t sure. \u201cI don\u2019t know who I\u2019ll hang out with and I don\u2019t know who I\u2019ll meet &#8212; we all have these fears.\u201d But, the way in which he opened up about his insecurities and the many plans he\u2019s already made are both signs that his experience at UWC Maastricht will be one of growth. That kind of growth is necessary, he told me, to improve the local community. \u201cIf you want to improve the situation around you, you need to go out, learn, go back, and apply what you have learned.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of our conversation, I asked him if I had missed anything. Entirely within character, Filip immediately had an answer: \u201cI like psychology and murders\u2026 No, no, I don\u2019t like murders! I\u2019m interested in the psychology of killers &#8212; I am surprised by how a person can consciously hurt someone else without feeling bad.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Thoughtfulness.jpg\" alt=\"Damjan Filipovski\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDamjan Filipovski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Thoughtfulness<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Thoughtfulness.jpg\" alt=\"Damjan Filipovski\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDamjan Filipovski\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Thoughtfulness<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Damjan&#8217;s ideas are well thought out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before answering, Damjan takes a short break to think. He grew up in Kumanovo, which he told me was a big part of his identity. When the UWC application asked him which languages \u200b\u200bhe spoke, Damjan answered &#8220;Macedonian (Kumanovo dialect)&#8221;. His thinking is logical when he explains the linguistic differences between literary Macedonian and the conversational Kumanovo dialect, which has retained some of the cases that can be found in the south of Serbia.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Observing such differences makes everyday things important. Is there anything more everyday-like than the way someone speaks?\u201d The fact that Damjan really pays attention to the world around him is not only obvious when it comes to linguistics. On almost every question, he gave several alternatives. For instance, he knows that he will choose math and physics at a higher level in UWC Adriatic. However, when he was telling me about social science options, Damjan pointed out a list of benefits for each of them. The same thing happened in the conversation about extracurricular activities: kayaking, sailing, hiking, and Model United Nations were all on the list of opportunities. He will wait until he gets to UWC before making a final decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After studying in Italy, Damjan finds himself in the United States. Or in Europe. Or in Kumanovo. There are good sides to most options. And modestly, Damjan says, &#8220;I keep telling you \u2018I don\u2019t know\u2019\u201d. To keep his unique mindset, Damjan is actively looking for new ideas. He had just read The Great Gatsby and watched a movie about the Vietnam War (which impressed him for the way the main character\u2019s development was portrayed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Damjan reads &#8220;literally everything&#8221; on the Internet. &#8220;Sometimes I&#8217;ll just get lost,&#8221; he told me as he explained an article he had read about music theory, which sounded interesting even though he couldn&#8217;t fully understand it. In that way, he complements the education he has so far received at the American High School in Skopje. The openness to new ideas makes him more prepared for the upcoming experience in Duino, and that\u2019s why he has already met some of his future classmates. &#8220;Very cool characters. In every way, there is someone who stands out.\u201d He wants to share with them the aspects of his country that are most interesting to him, such as the demographic mix, cultural customs, or the interesting language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-modal>\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"custom-saat-card\" data-component=\"card\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__img__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Lightheartedness.jpg\" alt=\"Mila Naumovska\" class=\"custom-saat-card__img\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-saat-card__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"custom-saat-card__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMila Naumovska\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"custom-saat-card__info\">Lightheartedness<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"custom-saat-card__link open-modal-button\" data-component=\"main-link\" data-modal-trigger aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sr-only\">View<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"true\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 14\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M13.4355 14L20 7L13.4355 0L12.0372 1.72942L15.8737 5.82004H0V8.17996H15.8737L12.0372 12.271L13.4355 14Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal\" data-modal-container data-visible=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__overlay\" data-modal-overlay><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"about-structure-modal__body\" data-modal-content>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"about-structure-modal__close-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"about-structure-modal__close close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfocusable=\"false\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M16.2887 14.9617C16.4649 15.1379 16.5638 15.3767 16.5638 15.6258C16.5638 15.8749 16.4649 16.1137 16.2887 16.2899C16.1126 16.466 15.8737 16.5649 15.6247 16.5649C15.3756 16.5649 15.1367 16.466 14.9606 16.2899L10.0005 11.3281L5.03874 16.2883C4.86262 16.4644 4.62374 16.5634 4.37467 16.5634C4.1256 16.5634 3.88673 16.4644 3.71061 16.2883C3.53449 16.1122 3.43555 15.8733 3.43555 15.6242C3.43555 15.3752 3.53449 15.1363 3.71061 14.9602L8.67233 10L3.71217 5.0383C3.53605 4.86218 3.43711 4.62331 3.43711 4.37423C3.43711 4.12516 3.53605 3.88629 3.71217 3.71017C3.88829 3.53405 4.12716 3.43511 4.37624 3.43511C4.62531 3.43511 4.86418 3.53405 5.0403 3.71017L10.0005 8.67189L14.9622 3.70939C15.1383 3.53327 15.3772 3.43433 15.6262 3.43433C15.8753 3.43433 16.1142 3.53327 16.2903 3.70939C16.4664 3.88551 16.5654 4.12438 16.5654 4.37345C16.5654 4.62252 16.4664 4.86139 16.2903 5.03751L11.3286 10L16.2887 14.9617Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mk.uwcstaging.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/UWC-Macedonia-Lightheartedness.jpg\" alt=\"Mila Naumovska\"class=\"about-structure-modal__image\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"about-structure-modal__title\" data-component=\"alt-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMila Naumovska\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"about-structure-modal__subtitle\">Lightheartedness<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"about-structure-modal__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mila is seemingly care-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She starts almost every story with \u201cdo you want to hear something funny?\u201d The 17-year-old high school students knows how to use her positivity to turn those first introductions &#8212; when conversation doesn\u2019t come as easily &#8212; particularly easy. In our interview, she broke the ice when, laughing, she \u201cbragged\u201d that she had fallen off her bike the previous day, even offering to show me the bruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mila approaches many of her adventures with similar ease. Though she hasn\u2019t entirely decided which subjects she will take at UWC Mahindra in India, she listed several paths towards a career she might like. \u201cThe weirdest scenario includes chemistry and biology, so I can become a zoologist, because I like animals\u2026 There was a scenario where I become a computer scientist, but I was reminded I\u2019m not very good at math.\u201d Mila spent three years at \u201cVasil Antevski &#8211; Dren,\u201d so it\u2019s also possible that she continues to study social sciences and pursue an interest in law. I asked her how she plans to decide. She said, \u201cI tell myself that I\u2019ll see what each day tells me. And every day, it\u2019s the same &#8212; the day tells me absolutely nothing. I don\u2019t know what I was expecting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her positivity is especially helpful when she needs to be dedicated towards a single goal. Mila, as a member of the Macedonian national volleyball team, tirelessly trains to improve. Trainings &#8212; before they were halted because of the virus &#8212; happened every day, and Mila had to learn to balance school and sports so she can maintain the high level of play. But she\u2019s also involved in non-governmental organizations: with another UWC student, she moderated a discussion about theater at the recent Equalis-fest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India\u2019s borders are still closed and, while she\u2019s waiting to hear from the embassy, Mila is finding ways to fill up her free time. She just finished \u201cLolita\u201d by Vladimir Nabokov, and just began \u201cSapiens\u201d by Yuval Noah Harari. She had read negative reviews for the latter book, but still decided to give it a chance (\u201cI\u2019ve always been good-hearted,\u201d she joked). When allowed, she tries to continue volleyball practice, and when not, she watches movies. Mila mentioned that she\u2019s interested in psychological thrillers that leave her mind-blown for days afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"--custom-fontfamily:&quot;Source Sans 3&quot;, sans-serif\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her positivity, which was obvious throughout our conversation, helps her get through the uncertainty about her arrival to India. She told me herself: \u201cI used to get worried and anxious about India, about which subjects I\u2019ll take &#8212; but then I told myself, \u2018Mila, wait. You\u2019re going to India to study for months at a time. Why not relax a little now?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"uwc-wp-spacer-block\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n        \n        ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":251,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","subsite_url":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-357","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Class of 2022 - UWC Macedonia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At the beginning of the summer of 2020, Bobo Stankovikj, one of the national committee members, sat down for a casual chat with each of our new students. 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