My name is Panagiotis Tsimpouris, and I am an incoming student at Lewis & Clark College. I was born in Kalamata, Greece, a seaside city with a population of 70,000. During my early childhood, I found Kalamata to be an ideal place to grow up. The characteristics of a small city provided us children with more freedom compared to larger urban areas. However, as I grew older, I felt that Kalamata wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to explore the world, experience new cultures, and become a global citizen. Given my financial constraints, I sought programs that offered financial aid as a means to “open my wings and fly around the world.”
I discovered UWC Colleges, which aligned perfectly with my values and ideologies, and I applied without hesitation. After a rigorous application process, I was selected as a representative student of Greece at UWC Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
My two years at UWC Mostar significantly developed my personality and the way I interact with other cultures. The UWC journey and the wonderful people I met, including students and teachers, broadened my perspective on the world—its beauty, its weaknesses, and the importance of striving to make it a better place. UWC profoundly shaped my character, transforming me from Panagiotis to “Tsibo,” a more developed version of myself. Without the opportunity UWC provided, “Tsibo” would never have existed, and the memories from Mostar would never have been created.
I see Lewis & Clark College as the “next step of UWC.” I aspire to continue making experiences similar to those at UWC, meet incredible people, and build a strong academic background. Lewis & Clark offers everything I desire, which is why I chose it without any hesitation. Additionally, I find the campus an ideal place to spend the next four years, as I am a big fan of forests and nature.
At Lewis & Clark, I will major in Computer Science. I have always been passionate about computers. Since childhood, I experimented with different PC hardware, asking questions like, “What will happen if I combine this CPU with a lower-watt PSU?” and observing the results. Although I don’t know much about programming yet, I am eager to learn throughout my college years.
Soccer has been my hobby since I was six years old. As a left-footed player, I have always loved training, playing, and competing in tournaments with my team. The sport has instilled in me athletic habits and underscored the importance of maintaining a healthy physique and lifestyle. Beyond the physical benefits, soccer taught me how to be a team player and communicate effectively with my teammates.
I am someone who always steps out of my comfort zone whenever an opportunity arises. I am very excited to embark on this new chapter of my life and can’t wait to experience living in a completely new environment. I deeply appreciate the opportunity Lewis & Clark has given me to visit my dream continent, America, and I will strive to make the most of it without letting anyone down.