Photo: North Star

As a child growing up in Nigeria, I observed first-hand the inequities and lack of opportunity that the accident of birth confers.  I observed similar inequities as a volunteer at the missions of charity house in Washington DC. However, my parents taught me that it was my responsibility to leave this world a little better that I found it. My journey so far has been to work towards this goal. In 1987, I got a full scholarship to attend Lester B. Pearson United World College.

After graduating from Pearson College, and taking a year off to work as a waiter on the QE2, Andrew Brown earned a degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University and later Masters Degrees first in Teaching English as a Second Language and then in Education Marketing.

William started his career as a Teaching Fellow in Biology with the University of Papua New Guinea(1982-1986) then as a Conservation Scientist with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Papua New Guinea( 1987-1992) then left to served as an Environmental Programs Coordinator with the United Nations Development Program in Papua New Guinea(1993-1997) and later returned to the University of Papua New Guinea to teach Conservation Strategies in the Environment Science Program(1993-1999).

Eri Kudo was part of the class of 1983. Now, nearly thirty years on, Eri says this early experience had and continues to have a profound effect on her life and her life’s work.

In 2006 Chloë Dear launched her own outdoor theatre company, Iron-Oxide which performed in Edinburgh, UK at the New Year celebrations 2009/10. She specializes in mid-large scale outdoor / street productions with a particular fondness of international co-productions, aerial spectaculars, multi-layered story telling, beaches and woodlands, fire, performing equines, film integrated with live action and touring in Europe.

How did you hear about UWC?
 
It all began 3 years ago as I was eating lunch at a Model UN conference, unaware that I was about to discover one of the best places in my life.  I met a wonderful and smiley friend named John from Rwanda who attended Pearson along with 2 others (from Jordan and Nepal) that made up the Pearson College delegation.  I was really inspired by these international students and awed by their school.  I remember them strongly urging me to apply.

Corey Bradshaw currently holds the Professorial Chair of Ecological Modelling at the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute in South Australia, and he has a co-appointment with the South Australian Research and Development Institute. Previously, he held an Associate Professor position at Charles Darwin University in northern Australia, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tasmania. Corey has completed 3 tertiary degrees in mathematical ecology (BSc, MSc, PhD) from universities in Canada and New Zealand.

“Pearson College, left her with some incredible gifts that she now shares with others: it introduced her to the Hispanic world, it encouraged her to think about social and political processes it allowed her to imagine the possibility of different routes and different futures, but, above all, it brought to her life the joy of learning.”

At Pearson College Lilian discovered forestry and her passion for the environment and rural development. She holds a forestry degree and has postgraduate studies in public policy.

Lilian’s approach to academics was multidisciplinary, something she learned at Pearson: "Science is fundamental but if people don't understand each other no technology or scientific answer holds, Pearson definitely influenced my career choice and deepened my empathy for both nature and people, so I undertook both life science and social science studies".

Lily Hua Fang came to Pearson College from China in 1992 as the first winner of Pearson’s McConnell Scholarship sponsored by Drs. Fleming and Aileen McConnell, long term supporters of China’s connection with the rest of the world.

An overwhelming theme amongst alumni is the close bonds formed with fellow students during their time at Pearson College.

Eddy Henry is currently Director of the Education Programme at the Sampoerna Foundation in Jakarta Indonesia. Previously Eddy was the CEO of two companies in Singapore and Indonesia. Eddy studied maths and computer science at university.

I had a number of vivid impressions in my first weeks at Pearson. First, the raw beauty of the location - having grown up in an urban city, the physical features of the Canadian West Coast were truly stunning! Second, the scale of diversity and openness amongst the other students, the faculty and the administration was fascinating. Finally, as one understood the broader curriculum (academics and extra curricular), I had a strong feeling of appreciation to be selected to participate in this terrific experience.

How did you hear about UWC?

I heard about UWC through my sister’s mother-in-law. She saw the ads in the local newspaper and encouraged me to apply. I then researched about UWC, being particularly interested in Pearson College.

 “Sometimes I still feel I am  that same person that walked along the paths of Pearson College. I feel the same excitement about life and I feel lucky to have preserved that feeling through all the winding roads I have travelled since Pearson. I truly believe that this inspiration is what keeps me alive in my job as a teacher; a deep and true belief in life and the passion for a better world that I shared at Pearson.”

Scott Campbell is CEO of Medusa Medical Technologies in Halifax, Nova Scotia.