Tristen Thompson, 17, a St. Anne's School graduate is preparing for a unique kind of learning post high school, with the assistance of a United World College (UWC) Scholarship. While she's not the first Bahamian to receive a UWC scholarship, she will be among a number of Bahamians for whom UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
For the next two years, Tristen will be immersed in a program with a mission and values to show young adults international and intercultural understanding, to celebrate difference, personal responsibility and integrity, mutual responsibility and respect, compassion and service, respect for the environment, a sense of idealism, personal challenge and action and personal example.
Tristen, the daughter of Erald and JoyAnne Thompson, has been appointed to Changshu, China, which was founded in 2015, and is the only UWC College in mainland China, and is situated in the 3,000-year-old city of Changshu.
UWC schools and colleges are located in 16 countries, and follow one of two models: Schools for students across a wide age range, providing students of all ages with the opportunity to gain a UWC education, and two-year pre-university colleges teaching the IB Diploma to students typically aged between 16 and 19 years.
The UWC movement consists of more than 60,000 alumni in virtually every country in the world. Tristen is embarking on a journey to add to that number.
"I decided to seek a UWC scholarship because when I was younger I was fascinated with people from different countries and their culture and their beliefs as to why they do what they did, and I realized that UWC would have been the perfect opportunity for me to experience what I've loved since I was a child. Also it's a very prestigious opportunity and I wanted to see if I could get it if I was on the same level as other children in the country and around the world, and to get the exposure going away," said Tristen.
Her first preference would have entailed a European college posting, because she and her father have always had a fascination with Europe. When she learned she was being posted to China, she said she was equally excited.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the Great Wall of China, and especially Shanghai, and I'm looking forward to trying the fast train, because it's an electric train, and also I'm just looking forward to meeting new people, and hopefully I want to meet people of different religions, especially a Muslim, so that I could understand why they believe in what they believe in," she said.
In preparation for the next two years as a UWC scholar, Tristen sought the advice from a number of UWC graduates, including her former swim coach Nancy Knowles, who was one of the first Bahamians to attend a UWC campus. Knowles was posted to Atlantic College in Wales.
"She [Knowles} told me to stick to my beliefs and to stick to my faith, and make sure that I know that I believe in God and stick to that. And to also be open-minded to those that I come in contact with because it's all about promoting world peace, and you have to accept others for who they are, and vice versa. She also said to work hard, put my mind to my work and just have a fun time."
Tristen was first introduced to the idea of a UWC education as a ninth grade student by her mother who spoke to her about the scholarship and the fact that a lot of smart people go into the program and that they are posted around the world. At the time, Tristan says she did not really pay attention to what her mother said. It wasn't until she was in 11th grade last year that she learnt of two recipients being posted to Italy, and during a foreign language assembly, one of the young ladies Skyped in and spoke to them in Italian.
"I said oh gosh this is something I would like to do, and I went and applied when I realized I could do this," said Tristen who graduated third in her class with a perfect 4.00 grade point average (GPA) behind valedictorian Jeffon Stubbs and salutatorian Teranne Morrisson.
Tristen was a member of an academically strong cohort. She said the top three students really pushed each other, and helped each other along when they didn't understand something.
"In math, when I didn't understand something I would go to Jeffon or Teranne and vice versa. We were in almost all electives together so we always helped and pushed each other. I was just happy I graduated with distinction which was my main goal," she said.
Tristen scored 1,740 on her Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and will be graduating with eight Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exams. In 11th grade she passed math, English, and religion with an "A" grade. She scored a "C" grade in her French core.
In her final year she sat biology, history, economics and French extended.
She has seven Bahamas Junior Certificates (BJC) exams with "A" grades in math, English, social studies, general science and health science and a "B" in religion; and a pass in music.
Her favorite subjects are biology and literature.
Tristen said the importance of applying herself and getting an education was instilled in her from an early age by her parents. She said they instilled in her that she could play hard, but that there would be consequences for her actions, and that she would get out what she put forth. She said they told her she had to work hard.
"Ever since I was little, I put my mind to my academics and I heard that education is the greatest power you can have and no one can take that away from you no matter what happens. And ever since then I was like I need to put my mind to work especially considering what I want to do later on in the future."
Upon completion of her UWC studies, Tristen wants to study internal medicine, with a view to becoming an endocrinologist to help people like her father and others like him who are diabetic.
Her advice to her peers is to realize that education and knowledge is the power that nobody can take away from them.
"Put your mind to your academics, because it's one of the most important things that you need to succeed in life, and just put your best foot forward."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian