Vasil comes from a great high school in the lovely Bitola – his humility would probably make him think that this is how I would describe him. Last weekend, we had a conversation to get to know each other outside the selection process, and throughout our talk, I kept noticing how authentic Vasil is. He’s a unique mix of extroversion and calmness. What you see is what you get – there’s no filtered or insincere version of him. I even went back to watch his “This is Me” video from the third round of selection. I’m not sure if he’d change anything about it now, but I really liked the simple yet meaningful concept he followed. That’s how I see Vasil – clear, direct, and thoughtful.

He told us about all his interests, switching between four different languages as he spoke. He mentioned his passion about learning languages several times, and I was genuinely impressed by how intentional his approaches are. He’s experimented with different strategies, figured out what helps him expand his vocabulary, and learned how to study more efficiently. He’s pushed himself out of his comfort zone too – the last time he was in Germany, he made it a point to speak only in German to practice immersive exposure. Every language I heard him speak sounded like he grew up with it.

What really stood out to me throughout this whole process is how easy Vasil makes it to feel comfortable around him. True to his extroverted nature, he shared anecdotes and jokes that tied into what we were talking about – online school during COVID, social life, travels. But he’s also a great listener. After each of my questions, he’d ask something back, genuinely curious about my experiences. Aside from feeling slightly old because of some generational differences, I noticed that Vasil never really talked about himself. Instead, he’d paint a picture of the atmosphere or the context in his stories and always seemed interested in my life before and after UWC.

He joked a few times that if I had nothing to write, I could just make something up. But in the short time I’ve known him, he’s never lacked substance or character. He even told me he hadn’t mentioned to anyone that he got into UWC until the school year was done. He didn’t want everyone waiting on news, or for every conversation to revolve around his departure – he just wanted to enjoy the last few weeks at school as if nothing had changed. Moments like that reveal a reserved side of him that helps him make thoughtful decisions in everyday life.

“The best way to grow as a person is to open yourself up to new experiences and challenges,” Vasil said. “And that’s what I hope to do alongside others at UWC.” I know the curiosity and authenticity he brings to every interaction will help him connect deeply with the people he’ll meet at UWC Li Po Chun. 

Jana Kraleva, july 2025