Mia has read almost every profile on our website from previous years. I asked her if any stood out to her, but the answer I got was: “They’re all amazing – oh, now I get to have one too!” When you talk to Mia, you get genuine reactions and sincere words. I always feel a kind of positive pressure when I write these profiles. I want each person to recognize themselves in the words and feel proud. After talking to her, I got a bit nervous. She doesn’t like when this gets mentioned too often, but she wrote her first book before she even reached double digits in age. You can probably understand why I felt the pressure now.

Throughout the whole selection process and the time since, Mia has shown an incredible motivation to become a part of UWC. I asked her what part of the process she liked most, and she mentioned something meaningful from every phase over the past few months. In the first round, she loved the questions, especially the creative essay prompt. In the second round, her favorite part (and this is a popular one) was meeting so many new people. She was, of course, eagerly waiting for the results, but it didn’t really matter to her which country she would end up in. As she put it: “When you commit to something, you should see it through.”

These answers aren’t just interesting to retell – they reveal how Mia experiences the world. She sees every moment as a chance to learn and grow. When she spoke about the application, she knew exactly which parts challenged her. One of the essays pushed her to tell a story that was uniquely hers and showed off her creative side. The group activities and friendships from the second round excited her because through meeting new people, she gets to understand how others think and why. When waiting to find out which college she’d be going to, she told me: “It didn’t matter where I’d go. I’m going for the UWC experience, not the country.” That line alone showed me how curious and open Mia is, and ready to feel at home wherever she lands.

As flexible as she is, Mia also brings a strong sense of determination and grit. She represented her school at a Youth Assembly – an opportunity where she could actively participate in shaping youth priorities for local change. She loves traveling and learning about other cultures. Right now, she’s focused on memorizing all the world’s capital cities, after having already mastered listing every country in record time. For Mia, this is a curiosity-fueled hobby, but she also sees it as a meaningful way to connect with people, with places, and with conversations. In fact, it’s more accurate to say that she doesn’t just want to learn about people and cultures – she wants to learn with and from them. It’s a perfect balance of introspection and insightfulness.
The excitement Mia brings to simple joys in life and to UWC reminds me how lucky I am to meet such inspiring, ambitious people every year. At UWC Thailand, I’m confident Mia will carry her passions and skills with her, form deep friendships, and build strong connections with the local community.

Jana Kraleva, july 2025