Hello! My name is Natalia, I am originally from Slovakia but for two years, I attended UWC East Africa, Arusha campus. Living in Tanzania was a huge culture shock, coming from central Europe, but it has become the most magical and memorable memory of my life.
The friendships were definitely my favorite part of the UWC experience. I would say that the friend group I ended up in held a very strong bond, as we lived with each other, had classes with each other and even traveled together during breaks. This might have been the best part, all the traveling. We visited places such as Zanzibar and Kenya together, from which I have a ton of fun and unforgettable memories. As much as it was sad to move away from each other again, I believe that many of these great friendships will last many years, if not a lifetime.
What caught my attention the most about L&C, when considering universities, was its beautiful campus and amazing location. Living close to a city was a strong requirement of mine, and Portland seemed like a wonderful, vibrant city, with many things to explore.
In terms of my majors, I am not quite sure yet, but the majors I am currently considering are International Relations and Psychology. Additionally, either for a second major or a minor, I would like to study Music, since it’s one of my greatest passions. I believe L&C’s involvement in the arts and Portland on its own will bring many amazing opportunities within this field.
As mentioned, I am passionate about the arts, such as visual arts and theater. I also play the guitar, the bass and I am learning to play the piano. In my free time, I also love to read.
When applying to L&C, I was absolutely in love with the idea of a liberal arts college, which is not common back home. Since my academic interests strongly differ from each other, this seemed like the perfect solution for a person like me, who has a wide range of subjects of interest. My initial plan was to study law, however I also enjoy chemistry, history and geography.
At L&C, I hope to explore and experiment with many of these subjects and find a good fit for a major for myself, which would lead me to a successful and enjoyable career path. I am also hoping to continue my persistent involvement in the arts and study music, either as a major or a minor. I am very excited to meet all of the wonderful students and engage with the L&C community!